Snowpiercer's Real Meaning 

Get Practical Tools to Write Your Great Screenplay: www.practicalscreenwriting.com

I think the Polar Bear is a great sign. The fact an apex predator is living show there's must be a stable ecosystem.

I actually had a different view of the polar bear. The polar bear to me showed hope. There was life outside of the train and the world outside of the train seemed to slowly becoming sustainable

I think, actually the whole movie was about people from the lower class rising up in society. In the end, Curtis actually had the chance to even become the most powerful man in society. But he realizes, that all the "evil" things Willford had done were necessary for the survival of the society as a whole. So he decided, that this form of society is not worth to continue existing and he used his position of power to destroy it. After all, the only people who could do that are the people in the head of the train. I also think that the train is just a metaphor. It stands for the society. After a global catastrophe, a new society formed. Its made from different classes (people with different tickets). The cold landscape resembles the live without society: No save foot, no protection,... Everyone who tried to separate himself from society dies due to this things. But it doesn`t make any progress (the train drives along the same route in yearly cycles). So the question the film asks is, if it is better to keep this unjust society running or to go to the struggle of building a whole new society. In case anyone actually read all of this, I want to apologize for my bad English and I wish you a nice rest of the day.

5:35 I though the polar bear meant that stuff was alive and they would have food to hunt.

Great film, good analysis.

Wilford vaguely resembles a Japanese shogun in his silk robe. Feudal Japan was the peak example of feudalism

I watched this on the toilet. 10/10

I never saw the train as capitalism as much as I've looked at it as 'society' or a nation, which makes it a bit more widely applicable. Although you are right about the different classes of people not having the options to change the social structure and relationships of the passengers to the extent that Wilford can, I would argue that this includes the revolutions of the tail section. Just like the Architect of the Matrix and his waxing of how many revolutions he has put down, it's important to note that Morpheus and the humans, just like the tail passengers on the Snowpiercer, believe that their revolution will be the one to end the oppression. There was ample opportunity for different sections to join the rebellion, but none do probably due to the fear of violence and the comfortable lives they have now - they have no idea what life is like in the tail other than dirty, so there's a great disconnect there and you have the forward-sections passengers/upperclassmen people effectively siding with the authority of Wilford since they do nothing to depose it. Whereas the Matrix merely reset the system on new terms, Snowpiercer's answer to the state (Wilford, the masked men, and uniformed passengers) and the rest of society (the other section's complacency in this arrangement) is to remove one of the most important roles from their position, Timmy, which sets in motion the whole derailment of the train and thus the destruction of society.

He who values safety over freedom, deserves neither.

I think this entire video falls apart when you realize that there was clear symbolism for the limited economic mobility in capitalism through the few back sectioners who get brought into jobs in the middle of the train when they are deemed useful, such as the cook, or the detective in the TV show.

If it were about feudalism, you could still move upwards via knighthood (the police force) or as a wealthy merchant. And as for our "protagonist", he does INDEED move forward due to his aptitude. Notice that how he was being groomed into leadership by the old guy. It was not his divine right to become the leader, he was CHOSEN by the ruler for his leadership abilities, which was established all the way at the beginning of the movie. To me, the seperation of the classes and the fact that the seperate classes (especially the middle class) being doctrinated into hating the lower class and the attempts at keeping the population low and the ecosystem balanced is a DIRECT reference to neoliberalism. You didn't see that type of indoctrination until after the industrialization.

I thought the structure of the social divisions within the train resembled Dante's "Inferno", or perhaps the Divine Comedy as a whole.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin

This is the clearest explanation of this film! You did an amazing job!!

Man, you are good. I was looking for an affirmative and your video confirmed it.

You've got some great stuff. Very thought-out and eloquent.

I really loved this movie. At first I thought the main message from this movie was: Are you agree with Wilford or Curtis and the difficulty to answer this question was the reason why I loved this movie. Then I realised that the antagonism was more between Wilford and Nam: Perpetuation or ending.

I thought the polar bear meant that earth had warmed up enough for animals to thrive, meaning they could thrive too. But after hearing your explanation I do think that the intention of the polar bear was a threat to their existence.

Watched it, wanted to find a deeper meaning. Came here and you did a good job. Subbed.

Love the video, I haven't seen the film but now I will! Glad to see your channel doing so well man :) well deserved. Get Twitter!

Let's see, so your channel's got movie reviews, film analysis, Hollywood studio political commentary, and now a look at socio-economics in an action movie. If there's anything I can say it's that your videos haven't lacked variety yet. Haha, good work dude.

That is really unique perspective. Thanks.

Just rewatched this movie. Kickass analysis, keep it up!

It's neither about capitalism, nor dictatiorsihp... the movie is about society... the human existence as it currently is. Also, I think the polar bear was a symbol of hope, since it shows that life still exists outside the train.

I interpreted the tail section to represent third world country sweatshop workers that toil long hours in inhumane conditions for peanuts and are not allowed to leave their countries to seek better employment opportunities, so that the middle section (middle class in 1st and 2nd world) can have cheap shoes and smartphones while the front of the train spends the profits from selling the shoes and smartphones on hookers and blow. Some might call that "global capitalism", but if using the word capitalism *triggers* you and your unrequited love for capitalism, than feel free to call it just "the global economy".

This is so well made, I agree with everything you said!

what I love about this film is the thought bubbles it created and stimulated in my mind

My opinion: The film says that the social order, that is rich and poor, or one ruled over everyone and the mutual killing of people for the creation of a balance, is not the right way. The train has always traveled in a circle, a vicious circle, everyone belongs to their place and this order is not easy to overcome. Nobody wanted to get off the train, except for those who were frozen to death or the Chinese. Almost everyone wanted to be at the head of the train. You forget that there can also be a new life outside the train (Curtis understood that at the end of the day), but you also carry a certain risk with you if you grab at the roots and destroy everything and reform it, i.e. not from that The head of the procession rules, but creates a new order. You overcome the vicious circle, in the end you see a bear that stands for life, but is also dangerous. The two children can only find little useful on the train and a bear outside, which suggests that one can live, but not necessarily survive. Redefining human life can cost humanity. The question is whether one would like to take this route

The bear didn't represent a problem. It represented hope that things were still alive and that they were using propaganda to lie about the dangers of the cold. They used the frozen people to say look you'll freeze because he knew if he told them the truth they would all leave the train and he would no longer be in control. Which is why the one guy didn't care about shooting through the glass because he knew it wouldn't hurt them.

NICELY PUT

spot on, i agree. thank you for the insight.

Keep up the good work Tyler, you are definitely up there with Nerdwriter and Now you see it.

on point! you know what's up v well put

Watched the movie. Didn't interpret completely. Now it is clear . Nice job mate :)

Well said!Appreciate your insight!👀💭

Amazing explanation! Really enjoyed your video!

AGREED 100% really nice analysis mate~

People at the front of the train: The system works if you deserve it. People in the middle: the system has problems, but if you work hard you can make it there. People at the back: The system does not work, and no matter how hard you try you will never make it to the front of the train.

Yes, this is a great analysis of the film! Thank you!

Good video man...I agree wholeheartedly. Wonderfully put

Great analysis. I just watched this film and it was absolutely phenomenal! Went in not expecting much and it ended up being one of the best I've ever seen. Really enjoyed the allegory throughout.

We all know it's just a sequel of Willy Wonka

1. Each section of the train represents the evolution of human society. Primitive brutal section -> little war -> discovery of outside world (windows starts to appear) & hunting (protein block factory) -> massive war -> agriculture & fishing & animal husbandry -> organized teaching (=modern country) & industry (music, book, medicine, guns starts to appear) 2. The movie always proceeds in one direction, from left to right. The right side represents progress, but it has a dead end. And the movie suggests an alternative way, outside of the train. 3. The polar bear, which locates at the top of the food chain, represents that the ecosystem outside the train is fully recovered. The movie shows an open and hopeful ending. 4. According to the director, a monologue of a grown-up black man was supposed to be included after the ending, but it was deleted. PS:The fish scene was originally scheduled for a rabbit, but it was replaced by a fish because it seemed too cruel. It was a homage to a scene from The godfather, and it is said to hint at the coming war.

I dot not fully agree with your interpretation about the polar bear, but all your take on the value a freedom is really interresting, you gave me a new look over the movie thanks a lot for this video !

This movie left me with such a bad feeling in my stomach. I couldn’t shake the thought. It kept me up at night jsut wondering and wondering. It really left me thinking. The end when they show Timmy down there..that just haunted me. My comment is nothing but a compliment.

Wilford - Capitalist Curtis - Socialist/Communist Nam - Anarchist​ People in the back aren't the 99%, they're just the poor. The people in the middle are the 99% (or just the majority based on actual accurate %). To me, it's supposed to outline the flaws in the 3 main ideologies shown. Curtis wants equality, but he sacrifices his morals for it. Nam wants freedom, but he sacrifices living for it. Wilford wants a sustainable life/economy on the train but he sacrifices others for it. Each one also fail in implementing their ideology. Wilford does because he alienates the poor which led to revolt. Curtis fails because he'd only end up the same as Wilford and eventually understands the train (the world) can't ruin without sacrificing lives. Nam fails because he only leads everyone to death. If it were just about Capitalism, either Curtis or Nam would've succeeded an it'd have a much happier ending.

I love Snowpiercer, it is a great movie. But in the end, I feel that it is ultimately a tragedy. To gain their "freedom", the train which had supported their lives was ultimately destroyed. And in doing so, it brought into question their very own survival. On the train, there existed a means of warmth, food and water. When the train was destroyed, all of that ceased to be. The few people who I imagined survived this, now faced this ice age with little to no knowledge of how to survive in such an environment. At the end of the movie, those polar bears might have at first glance been a symbol of hope, but they are carnivores, and those survivors most likely just faced their soon to be predators.

One thing in the books that have noticed more in the movie. Is the implied desolation of the world outside of the train. Because the temperature Wilfred states would cause common gasses to condence. There would be no snow, just puddles and vapor or frozen air. Not the snow and polar bears

just finsihed watching it this quarantine. well explained! i see that this story holds a lot of metaphor and symbolism in today's society and as to how we and people look at it especially on the ending. Agreed with the ending statement der :)

The image used for the thumbnail has to be my favourite shot in the move seeing Curtis in despair know he can’t change the system really hit me

societal structure: how important is freedom and livelyhood vs outside the system alone, and in danger.

Check out Adam Ruins Everything's episode on the American dream, people of lower class rarely move far up the monetary ladder, and for those born into poverty it's often impossible

Well Said and done .

Is Netflix connected to RU-vid or so? I just saw this movie yesterday and now this video was recommended to me on RU-vid.

Agree. I think it's a masterpiece, and a very different "action movie" (it, masterfully, yet oddly meets all my Action Movie "Essentials").

Has anyone connected this movie as predictive programming towards the grand solarminimum we are entering next year?

I was just watching this like 2 minutes before he uploaded this video it was cool

The one unmovable fact without which there is no train or Wilford for that matter is that the occupants had to believe that they needed the train(system) in the first place. I think the key is controlling perception

Honestly this reminds me of a dictator ship the story is very much like the story of hunger games but willford leads kind of like a thanos by eliminating half the people and I kinda agree with your story

Saw this at Angelika in SoHo in NYC after Pride Sunday in June 2014. Great film. Rather interesting audience as I remember. You might want to talk about "Pandorum" (2009), just watched it, for a reason.

The movie was pure methaphoric. I love it..

What the movie felt for me is that we live in a closed system, but the boundries are not physical. Society exist only because we believe in it. But what is keep everything in place? We just wanna live a good life. And in order the maintain the hope a better life, we need some alienation. In the movie, the alienation was forced because there were afraid of the outside. So Wilford knew that. he knew that people, rather then giving up, just wanted to make it further down the train. That's human and animal nature. I was asking myself, why these people just keep going? Why not just quit and die? Avoid all the pain and the sacrifice. But no, we have to keep going. But when you get to the end, you realize how crap it is. Like Wilford said, they all are prisoners. We shoudn't be afraid to get out of our way, get out of the train, to find answer to our questions. One day, we will have to face it. Better live a life of pain (to give death a meaning) than accept an infinite status quo of litterally turning around in circle for eternity.

Certainly agree it was unique and different and worth watching and reflection..especially in this moment

“I have something to say............ it’s better to burn out... *(does a twirl)* than to faaaaade away” -kurgan from highlander

Upward mobility was shown, the guy from the back who became a violinist but just like in real life it’s extremely rare and more people fall then they are uplifted. The movie absolutely is about capitalism.

I liked your video, music was really on point.

Amazing interpretation

Absolutely! I thought, this is like movies I've seen with kings and soldiers, how easily they will kill and use everyone else but only the lowest people on the ladder seem to realise and see it.

Yes, I totally agree with your analysis. Well done. One only exception is in my view your interpretation of the sight of the polar bear in the end. I didn't read it as threaten to life but rather that life still goes on outside, enough to allow for the survival of the most cold-resilient animals, and now little by little also for the Humans. So, in the end, a message of hope.

Great analysis!

Fuck this is good

Does the closed ecosystem(the train in the movie) which wilford mentions often in the movie represent a flat earth with a firmament??

While the movie is an analogy, I’m very bothered by the literal course of events. Everyone Curtis fought for died horribly, massacred and mutilated, without seeing a glimpse of hope. Everyone who lived peacefully and ignorantly died too. The only survivors are two children who have now met a hungry polar bear. I find it ridiculous some people think the polar bear is food, really, a little girl and a

I believe, that the true meaning of the movie is this: If you are in possession of power, do not abuse it for your own comfort while ignoring the wishes of those who are on the same boat as you. Even if you think that your way is justified by being the best for everyone. Because one day, they might become so desperate, that they rise up and not only také out those in the middle, but also sink the ship itself.

a great movie for what it makes us think about, thought ending coulda been fleshed out a little more given all the build up -but appreciate this analysis the discussions following, which get lil deeper into the matter

What a beautiful review 👌🏻😍

in that case do you think its instead more of a north koren allegory.

Thank you for this thoughtful analysis. I hadn't seen/read any other interpretations or commentary on this movie before. I was pleasantly surprised by the many thought-provoking themes explored within this movie. I wasn't expecting much with "Captain America" being the "face" of the movie. I didn't think of this movie in terms of specific political theories such as capitalism. Rather, I thought of it as an interestingly accessible way to present large themes that have been prevalent in science fiction (and other) literature for decades. For example, the idea of starting a colony or "new world" in a hostile environment with limited resources (think Mars for example)--the problem of how to achieve homeostasis in a closed system. How do you manage population growth? How do resources get allocated? What is the history behind inequalities in resource allocation, ie how does classism start? The Machiavellian machinations to make it appear as if "the masses" have power when in fact the real power comes from the collusion of the leader in the "underground" (Gilliam--sp?) as well as "the top" (the engineer). What to do with the inevitable entropy--ie parts of the engine breaking down. That was the most evocative to me: the movie's allusion to Dostoevsky's "Brothers Karamazov" when we find that the engineer's solution to the inevitable entropy of the train engine is to use use children who fit: Tell me yourself, I challenge your answer. Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature- that baby beating its breast with its fist, for instance- and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell the truth." "No, I wouldn't consent," said Alyosha softly. And can you admit the idea that men for whom you are building it would agree to accept their happiness on the foundation of the unexpiated blood of a little victim? And accepting it would remain happy for ever?" "No, I can't admit it."

WOW - great job....

At my age... to sacrifice over freedom in that manner? I rather die... quality of life is more important than having freedom...

Whar does the connection between the old men and wilford mean?

Good summary!

I have only watched the film once and may have missed some things, but with respect to the debate over moving up in the potential capitalistic society not occurring, the scene of the violinist comes to mind. The violinist could be symbolizing those with skills existing in the the lower class and the cruel hardship of moving up in class. With the goal of leaving the tail with his wife, he volunteers the two of them. Unfortunately, his wife is not allowed to come with him which could symbolize the hardship of falsity of the bootstrap progression in society.

the engine metaphors the capitalistic system , when everyone saying it is eternal but its ends up being destroyed at one point

Magnificent !

Well done

Whenever people give in depth movie explanations like this, explanations that make sense, I always wonder how the hell people are able to think this deep. All the polar bear was to me was the message that life COULD exist outside the train.

I Got This. That 2013 Film will become a TV Series This Year

Where did they get the steaks and chicken because I didn't see a livestock car on their journey to the front

Interesting interpretation! While I might not agree with you 100% (though the feudalism bit is something I haven't thought of, and was very intriguing), I must say that I agree with you that an audience's interpretation of the meaning behind any piece of art/literature/media is much more powerful and important than the artist's intentions. Great job there, mate. Well done!

Some pointed out that snowpiercer the closest thing to a bioshock movie while other say it either a sequel or prequel to willy wonka as their are videos saying wilford is willy or a wonka. Another group say that this is a spiritual successor of altas shrugged by ayn rand because the antagonists is the fascist wilford and the socialist Gillian the old men missing a leg.

Great analysis

I think that the polar bears would rather mean that survival was now possible than the fact that they were already facing competition and that they wouldnt survive

Are we not every human race living with in a closed ecosystem so why is it we have the term open ecosystem can anyone explain to me any situation open ecosystem

You all should read the translated version of the graphic novel Le Transperceneige which Snowpiercer was based on.

Really good analysis.

It's mostly an analysis of the current unitary systemification of human society which is stratified in a way that prevents all from participation in a power process.

well i think the movie says that no matter how clever it is its an illusion until you go out and meet the fact how ever i agree that every thing come with a price and the ultimate price is sacrifice

Is the cycle of the train bec. there aren't enough resources to go around? Thus creating the inequality in the distribution of wealth?