“What Happened to Monday,” a 2017 Netflix film, hinges on a disturbing yet thought-provoking exploration of overpopulation in a near-future world and the extreme measures taken to control it, resulting in a complex narrative of seven identical sisters forced to share one identity. The film ultimately serves as a cautionary tale, examining the ethical dilemmas surrounding population control, the importance of individuality, and the lengths people will go to survive in a system designed to erase them.
The Core Themes: Survival, Individuality, and Sacrifice
“What Happened to Monday” is more than just a science fiction thriller. It’s a layered exploration of several significant themes:
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Overpopulation and Resource Scarcity: The film paints a grim picture of a future where the Earth’s resources are stretched to their breaking point due to unchecked population growth. This serves as the catalyst for the drastic measures implemented by the Child Allocation Bureau (CAB).
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Ethical Implications of Population Control: The CAB’s policy of only allowing one child per family raises profound ethical questions about the right to reproduce and the government’s role in regulating procreation. The film doesn’t shy away from depicting the brutal realities of this control, including the forced cryosleep of “surplus” siblings.
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Loss of Individuality: Forced to live as one person, the seven sisters struggle to maintain their individual identities and personalities. The constant fear of exposure and the need to conform to the “Karen Settman” persona create a suffocating environment that challenges their sense of self.
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Sisterhood and Loyalty: Despite the intense pressure and inherent rivalries, the sisters share a deep bond of loyalty and protect each other fiercely. Their shared experience of hiding and their dependence on one another forge an unbreakable connection.
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Government Corruption and Abuse of Power: The film exposes the dark side of the CAB, revealing the corruption and abuse of power within the organization. The pursuit of control and the suppression of dissenting voices highlight the dangers of unchecked authority.
Unpacking the Plot Twists and Turns
The narrative is full of unexpected twists that keep the audience engaged. The disappearance of Monday sets off a chain of events that unravels the truth behind the CAB’s operations and reveals a deeper conspiracy. Key plot elements include:
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The Significance of Monday’s Disappearance: Monday’s vanishing act is the initial spark that ignites the film’s central conflict. Her absence forces the remaining sisters to question the safety of their carefully constructed world and to uncover the truth behind the CAB’s agenda.
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The Revelation of Nicolette Cayman’s True Motives: The seemingly benevolent Nicolette Cayman, the head of the CAB, is revealed to be a ruthless power-seeker who uses the One-Child Policy to achieve her own political ambitions. Her manipulation and deception are central to the film’s commentary on corruption.
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The Sacrifice of Tuesday: Tuesday’s willingness to sacrifice herself to gather evidence against Cayman demonstrates the depth of the sisters’ loyalty and their determination to expose the truth. This act of selflessness underscores the film’s theme of sacrifice.
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The Final Confrontation and Resolution: The climactic confrontation between the sisters and Cayman reveals the truth about the CAB’s operations to the public, leading to Cayman’s downfall and the dismantling of the One-Child Policy. The ending offers a glimmer of hope for a future where individuality is valued and respected.
Analyzing the Film’s Social Commentary
“What Happened to Monday” is a powerful commentary on several pressing social issues:
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The Dangers of Authoritarianism: The film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarian regimes and the erosion of individual liberties in the name of the greater good. The CAB’s methods of control and surveillance are reminiscent of dystopian societies depicted in classic literature.
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The Importance of Reproductive Rights: The film raises important questions about the right to choose and the government’s role in regulating reproductive decisions. The One-Child Policy is a direct assault on personal autonomy and bodily autonomy.
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The Value of Diversity and Individuality: The sisters’ struggle to maintain their individual identities in a world that demands conformity highlights the importance of diversity and the richness that individuality brings to society. The film argues that suppressing individuality ultimately weakens society as a whole.
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The Impact of Environmental Degradation: While not explicitly addressed, the backdrop of overpopulation and resource scarcity subtly hints at the consequences of environmental degradation and the need for sustainable practices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the movie “What Happened to Monday” and their answers:
H3: 1. What is the ‘One-Child Policy’ in the movie?
The ‘One-Child Policy’ is a fictional governmental decree implemented in the film’s dystopian future to combat severe overpopulation. This policy dictates that each family is only permitted to have one child. Any additional children are taken into cryosleep, purportedly to be awakened when the Earth’s resources can sustain them.
H3: 2. How do the seven sisters avoid detection?
The sisters operate under the shared identity of Karen Settman. Each sister is named after a day of the week and is only allowed to go outside on their designated day. They share information about their daily experiences during evening debriefings to maintain consistency in their assumed identity.
H3: 3. Who is Nicolette Cayman and what is her role?
Nicolette Cayman is the head of the Child Allocation Bureau (CAB) and the main proponent of the One-Child Policy. Publicly, she presents herself as a savior working to prevent societal collapse. However, her true motives are more sinister, involving political ambition and a darker secret regarding the fate of the cryoslept children.
H3: 4. What happens to the ‘surplus’ children collected by the CAB?
The film reveals that the children collected by the CAB are not put into cryosleep as advertised. Instead, they are euthanized, and their bodies are incinerated. Cayman utilizes this brutal practice to further her political agenda by manipulating public perception of the overpopulation crisis.
H3: 5. Why does Monday disappear?
Monday disappears after discovering evidence of Cayman’s true plans and attempting to expose them. She is kidnapped and tortured, setting in motion the events that lead to the unraveling of the CAB’s conspiracy.
H3: 6. What is the significance of the name ‘Karen Settman’?
The name ‘Karen Settman’ is chosen to represent the single identity the seven sisters must share. It allows them to navigate the outside world without raising suspicion. The name itself doesn’t hold any particular symbolic meaning beyond its functionality.
H3: 7. How does the film portray the concept of individuality?
The film powerfully portrays the importance of individuality by highlighting the sisters’ struggles to maintain their unique identities while being forced to live as one person. Each sister has distinct personalities, interests, and skills, and their confinement to the “Karen Settman” persona is a constant source of frustration and conflict.
H3: 8. What are the weaknesses in the security of the Settman sisters’ apartment?
Despite the seemingly secure apartment, the sisters are vulnerable to intrusion. Their reliance on routine and predictable schedules makes them susceptible to observation and surveillance. Also, their reliance on a single point of access increases their risk of being discovered.
H3: 9. What are the real-world implications of the film’s themes?
The film’s themes of overpopulation, resource scarcity, and government control have real-world implications. They prompt us to consider the ethical dilemmas surrounding population policies, the importance of protecting individual liberties, and the potential consequences of environmental degradation.
H3: 10. How does the film use violence and action sequences?
The film uses violence and action sequences strategically to heighten the tension and emphasize the desperation of the sisters’ situation. The violence is not gratuitous but rather serves to illustrate the stakes involved in their fight for survival and freedom.
H3: 11. What is the ultimate message of “What Happened to Monday?”
The ultimate message of “What Happened to Monday” is a warning against the dangers of unchecked authority and the suppression of individuality. It highlights the importance of protecting reproductive rights, preserving personal freedoms, and promoting sustainable practices to avoid the dystopian future depicted in the film. The movie champions resistance against oppressive systems.
H3: 12. What is the significance of the final scene and the two babies?
The final scene, showcasing Thrusday giving birth to twins, signifies a hopeful future where individuality is celebrated and reproductive rights are restored. It implies the abolishment of the One-Child Policy and the beginning of a new era emphasizing freedom of choice and respect for human life. The film concludes that love and life will always fight to preserve their existence.