INSURGENT

US, 2015, 119 minutes, Colour.
Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Naomi Watts, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Jai Courtney, Mekhi Pfiffer, Octavia Spencer, Zoey Kravitz, Tony Goldwyn Ashley Judd, Janet Mc Teer, Ray Stevenson, Maggie Q, Jonny Weston.
Directed by Robert Schwenke.

Last year audiences learnt about a post-apocalyptic world, confined to a city, with a social structure of five communities: Dauntless, Erudite, Candor, Amity, Abnegation. Individuals belong to each of the groups according to their personality and talents. in the first film of the series, based on novels by Veronica Roth, Divergent, we saw that Abnegation was eliminated, that the military types of Dauntless were in command.

The central character was Tris, played with great energy and determination by Shailene Woodley. It emerges that, though she was from an Abnegation family, she was really different and was a Divergent. The power in the city was Jeanine (Kate Winslet). One of the ways of control was simulation games, akin to some of the heroics now familiar from The Hunger Games. Tris, put through extraordinary physical paces, was drawn to Four, actual name Tobias (Theo James) and, by the end of this first episode, Tris’s parents (Tony Goldwyn and Ashley Judd) were dead. Rebels went into exile.

With the second episode, Insurgent, we find the rebels living with the Amity group, led by Octavia Spencer. While the rebels agree not to disturb Amity, Jeanine’s forces invade the outpost with Tris and Tobias escaping, pursued by the relentless Eric (Jai Courtney). They take refuge on a goods train going to the city where again, they are confronted. Peter (Miles Teller) betrays them and Triss’ Erudite brother, Caleb (Ansel Elgort) thinks he is doing right by going to work for Jeanine.

So far, so expected – except that there is a revelation that Tobias’s mother has not died when he was a little boy, as had been thought, but has fabricated her death to escape her tyrannical husband, Marcus. It is then that we realise that she is played by Naomi Watts, almost unrecognisable in a dark wig. She wants to lead a revolution with her group, and the Factionless, against Jeanine.

Then the film becomes more interesting and arresting, as Jeanine, Kate Winslet offering a performance of Aryan tyranny without any charm, is testing Divergents hoping to find the perfect candidate who embodies all the factions. The sequences where Tris goes through successive simulation experiments and demanding experiences, showing her capacities of 100% Divergent, focus the attention. We admire the ingenuity of the special effects people as they create extraordinary visual situations for the tests, especially a block of floating rooms on fire with Triss showing that she is a strong female super-hero, in her attempts to save her stranded mother.

With various twists in the plot and changing loyalties, we are introduced to a mysterious box which was in the care of Tricia’s mother and is now opened, seeming to offer good news and a happy ending and an improved future for all factions. But, then, there is one brief final scene which leaves us watching the final credits on edge, wondering where the sequels, Allegiant will lead us as the inhabitants move beyond the wall of the city. The two-part Allegiant is to come.

1. The impact of Divergent, situations, characters, conflict? Disaster and remedy?

2. The title, Tris, Tobias, the group? The Factionless and Tobias mother? Lies? The stances, the confrontations? Peter and his betrayal and change of heart? Caleb and his leaving, with Jeanine?

3. The situation, the city, the wall? The role of the Council, Jeanine and domination? Her armed guards? Max and his leadership? Eric, relentless, pursuit – and his death? Caleb, with Tris? Going to Jeanine? Her control, her Aryan look and to any? Her experiments with the Divergents? With Tris or?

4. The factions, Dauntless, Erudite, Candor, Amity, Abnegation? The destruction of Abnegation? The death of Tris’s parents?

5. The group of rebels, taking refuge with Amity, Amity and the hospitality, Johanna, her fears, the ethos of Amity? Tris and Tobias to leave? The trucks invading, the attack, the guns, Eric and the pursuit, fleeing through the woods, getting on the train? The confrontation with the leader of the Factionless? Being taken to Evelyn?

6. Evelyn, her character, her story, the clashes with Marcus, his brutality, her leaving, engineering her death, abandoning Tobias? Her new role, leadership, Tobias and his confronting his mother, despising her, his argument that she was leading the rebellion for herself? Her plan? Her rivalry with Jeanine?

7. Jeanine defying the Council, her image of the buildings, her speeches?

8. Peter, his role, his critique and betrayal, working with Jeanine, her promises, not keeping them? His decision to save Tris and Tobias, unlocking the doors, the escape?

9. Asking for refuge with Candor, the leader, his firmness, the truth serum, Tobias and the truth, Tris, her unwillingness, her friendship with Christine and the other members of Tender, the truth about Will’s death, the judgements made, the leader, Tris and her capture?

10. The test on the Divergents, testing each faction? Tris 100%? The impact of the tests, the visuals, the simulations, Tris and her mother, on fire, the house going through the air? Her gymnastic abilities, her heroism, saving her mother? Her proving her intelligence? Her Candor in telling the truth? The role that Tobias played in the simulations, his being shattered? Her selflessness?

11. The further test, her room, the box and its being opened? Her dream and the opening of the box? Tobias, Peter, his change of heart, Tris and the test, going back for the box? Confronting Jeanine?

12. The projection and the voice from the box? The crowds leaving the city? Hope, the test, the past, the hope for the future?

13. The confrontation between Evelyn and Jeanine, the shooting? The end of the film – and anticipation of Allegiant?