"Compliance" : Unquestioning Obedience

After my last post this week, I found out "Compliance" was playing in a small Art House theater here in LA, only in one theater for a one week run. Therefore, I decide to cross the city and go watch it before its gone. I usually ( obviously) I concentrate on the movie and not on the audience that accompanies me at the theater, but this time, the audience's reactions to the film really made it seem as an ongoing self-analyzing experiment. "Compliance" is a difficult film to watch, it is in fact something most people will not sit through. Perhaps, its because it confronts us with very raw moral issues about what is at core "Right" or "Wrong", regardless of the motivation for such actions. In this film the motivation is the call that moves the plot forward. We really don't know much about any of the characters other than they work at a fast food place, we might know a thing or two irrelevant personal traits, but in general this sets the piece as something that could happen to anyone. That fake normality is where "Compliance" has its strength.

 Becky, a young cashier,  is the chosen artifact to test her coworkers and friends "decision making skills". Blamed of having robbed a costumer, Becky is subjected to disturbing treatment and punishments under the cover of Officer Daniels' commands. We know the whole time that this Officer Daniels is a hoax, and that makes these people's actions even more repulsive. I have to admit that at some point the "punishments" get so bizarre and vicious they ignited laughter in the audience, but considering the fact that the film claims that it is based on real events, this is conflicting. Just to consider how far the characters go to "comply" with the requests is very unsettling. The way they  follow this unquestioning obedience and how the victim herself is complying too, urged by the fear of even worse consequences. The nature of power and obedience and how we bend our moral judgements to accommodate and serve our own interests is put right in your face, so much that one of the ladies in the audience stood up and exclaimed "I cant watch this" and walked out. The first time i actually witness someone do this.

Also adding to the drama is the magnificent musical score.Many times the music is not what is noticed first in an indie, low budget film, but in " Compliance"the music becomes a very dark and menacing companion to the film.Used in the right moments, like in very long shots that follow the characters as if to witness without blinking what they are about to do.  This is Craig Zobel's sophomore feature and it works brilliantly, the whole film flies so quickly, and although it might seem that nothing really happens there is never a dull moment in the film. Organic and simple in its conception, the whole film takes place basically in one main location, with a handful of actors, and over one night of this people's lives. The cast is just pitch perfect, Pat Healy as the non-existent Officer Daniel's gives us a lesson on the seductive nature of power and the need for submission he expects from his victims. As Sandra, the place's manager, Ann Dowd is really convincing of someone who has block their own convictions in order to fulfill and mindless duty.

My only note on the film is that at the end it tries to gives some sort of assurance that justice wins and it seems a bit PSAish, but it is something that doesn't take from the overall "mind rape" the film leaves on you. See it if you can and form your own questions,but I'm sure  it will be an experience, because the film brutally rattles the basis of our definition of victim and accomplice. Grade A.