Retroanderworldly Tale: Captive State Unfolds in the Realm of Science Fiction
In the world of cinema, deals come together swiftly, and such was the case with "Captive State". Participant Media swiftly got behind the project, eager to bring this compelling movie to life.
Set in a world that mirrors our own, "Captive State" depicts a society where civil liberties are being eroded, and technological advancements have regressed under the shadow of an alien occupation. The story delves into themes of personal sacrifice for freedom and the responsibility towards humanity and the planet.
Producer David Crockett describes "Captive State" as a grounded sci-fi story set in a real world, drawing parallels with historical totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union. Vera Farmiga stars as Jane Doe, a mysterious figure whose past may hold the key to mankind's future.
John Goodman stars as William Mulligan, a seasoned Chicago cop investigating an underground faction determined to end the alien occupation. The story follows a pair of brothers, long separated after the invasion, who reunite just as the elder of the pair leads a small group of homegrown revolutionaries to enact a plot to disable the aliens' tracking monitor atop the Sears Tower.
Ashton Sanders stars as Gabriel, the younger of the two brothers, who continues his search for his long-lost sibling. The film's script, crafted by Rupert Wyatt and screenwriter Erica Beeney, was inspired by the works of French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville and Italian director Gillo Pontecorvo.
Director Rupert Wyatt aimed to portray these themes in a science fiction context, drawing inspiration from Melville's film "Army of Shadows" and Pontecorvo's "Battle of Algiers". The film's themes of democracy and oppression are rich and complex but are subtly smuggled in through an entertaining science fiction story.
"Captive State" offers a chilling depiction of an unrecognizable Chicago nearly a decade after it has been occupied by an extraterrestrial force. The story explores the question of what people are willing to do for freedom when their rights are taken away by an occupying force.
Wyatt collaborated with Participant Media, a production company known for creating content that inspires social change and addresses contemporary issues. The film's themes of climate change are subtly portrayed, with the world feeling like a winter landscape due to the aliens' resource mining.
Producer David Crockett states that the story in "Captive State" addresses the question of what people are willing to do for freedom when their rights are taken away by an occupying force. The film promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of oppression, freedom, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity.
