THE HUMANITY BUREAU
Canada/US, 2017, 95 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Sarah Lind, Jakob Davies, Hugh Dillon, Vicellous Shannon,
by Robert W. King.
The Humanity Bureau itself is not humanitarian at all. The setting is the latter part of the 21st-century, Earth becoming barren, people trying to survive in the deserts of Nevada with minimum food and water yet trying to build up communities.
Nicolas Cage, a bit more humane than in the many thrillers made during these years, is an agent of the Bureau, seen in visiting people, threatening them, telling them they must go to a special retirement place, Eden. It is revealed that this is the equivalent of a future concentration camp and the agent knows this. We see him also visiting a young woman who has to be reassessed for her contribution to the community. She has a young son, hyperactive.
The agent is also supervised by the authorities and is in line for promotion – except, that he cares for the woman and her son and sets out to help them escape to Canada. There are various adventures on the way, isolated communities who in fact to help with petrol and provisions while they are pursued by the authorities.
There are some unexpected revelations about the boy and his relationship to the agent.
On the one hand, there is a somewhat pessimistic ending in terms of deaths – but the agent having secreted a USB stick with subversive information coming into the possession of Native American ranges in Canada and the Humanity Bureau being exposed.
1. The title, the irony in the betrayal?
2. A post-apocalyptic world, 80 years from the present? The 21st-century story?
3. The scorched earth, barren, the radiation? No growth, no crops, contaminated water? The experience of deprivation? The credible scenario?
4. Nevada, the desert atmosphere, the roads and highways? Old homes? The contrast with the contemporary city, high buildings, offices? The landscapes of Montana, the border with Canada, snow and the seasons, the musical score?
5. The situation, the role of the government, totalitarian, fascist and deceptive, the creation of New Eden? The brochure, the contrast with the reality, deportation, ovens and destruction, millions killed?
6. The focus on Noah, his role, working for the government, knowing the truth? Driving in the desert, the contemporary communications, Adam and his assistant, the supervisors? The rules of authority and accountability?
7. Noah and the old man, the landlord trying to sell water, the motel, talking with the old man, his refusal to go, his getting the gun, the shots, his death? The ticket? Giving an account to the authorities? Noah’s potential promotion?
8. Noah, the surreptitious meeting with the man in the elevator, something subversive, Adam confronting the man, the death of his family?
9. Rachel and Lucas, their life and style, the community, school, the music and the recital? The interview, contributing to society or not? Lucas, being contrary, the interview with Rachel, the back of the truck? Noah’s reaction, giving 24 hours for the audition, his being present?
10. Noah and his decision, Lucas and his fall, in the truck, fleeing, trying to get provisions, the man at the gas station, impeding the progress of the authority cars? The woman, supplies, her giving information? Attacked by the group, the outlaws, support, encourage to go to the border? The testing of the radiation?
11. The revelation of the truth about Noah and Rachel, Lucas as his son, Rachel as the neighbour, the mother’s death, her caring for Lucas not telling him the truth?
12. Adam, bureaucrat, the authorities, the pursuit of Noah, the confrontation, the bargain, Lucas saved, Noah giving him the souvenir? The deaths of Rachel and number?
13. The Canadians, native, rangers, the attack, shooting Adam and the others, rescuing Lucas?
14. The memory stick, Noah and is speech about revolution, its playing on the television, the people rising up?
15. A successful revolution? The future?
