The Platform: It Had Me at First, but Left Me Hanging in the End

Disclaimer: If you’re claustrophobic or not in the best state of mind, I wouldn’t recommend watching this movie, unless you like psychological thrillers that depict reality and societal issues as I do.

That’s obviously the reason why The Platform caught me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the story’s message but, sorry not sorry, not the endings. I say “endings” because both versions of it have exactly the same unresolved and depressing ending. And yes, the movie has disappointed me not just once, but twice. 

It’s a simple yet epic portrayal of the harsh societal hierarchy. It is also the only movie I’ve watch that uses such limited setting – the vertical prison structure. Those on the top levels represent the privileged elite, who tend to consume excessively because of abundance, while those on the lower levels, the marginalized and oppressed, are left with food scraps, or worse, nothing at all. But as Imoguiri stated there could be “spontaneous solidarity”, where everyone could eat if the food were divided equally, since the feast being served is enough for all. 

The movie’s sequence confused me as well because The Platform 2 seems to be the prequel. This only makes sense once you’ve watched both. The food distribution system at first is pretty straightforward: inmates are given their favourite food, and they should simply eat that specific food. However, due to capitalism and hierarchy, inmates choose to consume more than they need which leads to resentment from those below. As a result, those on lower levels are pushed to act the same and the system begins to crumble.

I started to love the movie for the valuable lessons it presents. I realized that we often blame the system, when in fact, the system is created based on people’s behaviour. The problem isn’t always the system but the people. In desperation, human survival instincts take over, causing them to neglect the very system that was meant to maintain order. I also like the message that life could take us highs and lows. Sometimes, we have to hit the lowest of lows for us to appreciate what we have and learn the importance of sharing.

IMO, a good movie should atleast have a solid build up and provide answers by the end, not leave more questions unanswered. The “message”, as Baharat and Goreng describe the kid, shouldn’t be considered a true message if it doesn’t clearly convey its meaning to the viewers. I’d like the movie to answer my piling questions: After sending the “message”, what happens next? When does the cycle stop? Will the system change? Was sacrificing lives worth it? Are the kids real or purely hallucination? Should there be The Platform 3 then? Well, I don’t mind. I believe it’s important for a movie to leave a clearer ending prior to jumping into the next part. It should provide a resolution, not just focus on survival.

The Platform powerfully depicts reality’s injustices and could have been a beacon of hope for society, but it failed on the latter. Sacrificing the young soul and letting him experience the same problem wasn’t a satisfying ending. It could have been more impactful and encouraging. IT DESERVED A BETTER ENDING—I can’t stress this enough! It left me rage instead of hope. After enduring its intense, unsettling, and morbid scenes, I craved for a more healing ending – one that offers hope, redemption, and the possibility of societal transformation. 

If I were to rewrite the ending, I would highlight the effect of the inmates’ solidarity in surviving the pit of hell. Once the kid, serving as the “message”, reaches the top, the administration would recognize the need for change, and take steps to transform the system into something just and humane. The administration should be more proactive in knowing the condition inside the prison. It will then be transformed into an ideal place for people who want to contemplate their life, a comfortable rehabilitation for those who want to help themselves. This transformation will then help them become better individuals who are ready to take part in solving society’s problems the moment they go back to the real world. Or simply be the good person this world needs.