“What Happened on Monday” paints a grim picture of a future crippled by overpopulation, where a draconian one-child policy is ruthlessly enforced to maintain a semblance of order. The film meticulously chronicles the lives of seven identical sisters forced to share a single identity, navigating the treacherous landscape of a totalitarian regime while desperately clinging to their individual selves.
The Core of the Chaos: Understanding the Child Allocation Bureau (CAB)
The film’s premise revolves around a future where rampant population growth has exhausted Earth’s resources, leading to widespread famine and societal collapse. To combat this existential threat, the Child Allocation Bureau (CAB), led by the steely-eyed Nicolette Cayman, institutes a one-child policy. Any subsequent siblings are cryogenically frozen (“put in child allocation”) until a time when resources are plentiful enough to support them. This policy, however, is far from humane, masking a darker secret: the “allocated” children are not frozen, but rather brutally eliminated.
The film follows the seven Settman sisters – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – each named after the day of the week they are allowed to venture out into the world, all impersonating Karen Settman. Their fragile existence is shattered when Monday disappears, triggering a desperate fight for survival as the remaining sisters attempt to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and expose the CAB’s insidious agenda.
The Sisters’ Struggle: Identity and Survival
The brilliance of “What Happened on Monday” lies not just in its dystopian setting, but in its exploration of identity and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive. Raised in isolation by their grandfather, Terrence Settman (Willem Dafoe), the sisters have forged a complex and often strained relationship, bound by the necessity of their shared secret. Each sister has her own distinct personality, skills, and desires, constantly battling with the suppression of their individuality demanded by their shared identity. The disappearance of Monday forces each sister to confront her own mortality and the sacrifices they have made to maintain their precarious existence.
Their system, meticulously planned and executed for three decades, begins to unravel as internal conflicts and external threats converge. They are forced to use their unique skills – Wednesday’s combat expertise, Saturday’s technological prowess, and Sunday’s ability to de-escalate conflicts – to survive against the CAB’s relentless pursuit.
Unraveling the Truth: Betrayal and Corruption
As the remaining sisters delve deeper into Monday’s disappearance, they uncover a conspiracy that reaches the highest echelons of the CAB. They discover that Nicolette Cayman is not simply enforcing the one-child policy, but actively using it to eliminate unwanted children under the guise of “allocation.” Furthermore, Cayman plans to rig the upcoming election, solidifying her power and ensuring the continuation of her twisted vision for humanity’s future.
The sisters face betrayal from within their own ranks, highlighting the corrosive effect of fear and desperation. They realize that their only chance of survival lies in exposing Cayman’s crimes to the world, even if it means sacrificing everything they have fought to protect. The film culminates in a bloody and emotionally charged confrontation, where the sisters must outwit Cayman and her forces to reveal the truth and fight for a future where individual identity is valued over population control.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the significance of the Settman sisters’ names?
The names of the Settman sisters – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – are directly tied to the day of the week on which they are allowed to venture out into the world and impersonate Karen Settman. This naming convention reinforces the strict limitations imposed upon their individuality and the rigid structure of their lives under the CAB’s control. The names also serve as a constant reminder of their shared identity and the constant threat of exposure.
Q2: How did Terrence Settman manage to hide seven children from the CAB for so long?
Terrence Settman’s success in hiding the seven sisters relied on a combination of meticulous planning, extreme isolation, and exploiting loopholes in the CAB’s enforcement. He lived in a secluded apartment, heavily modified to conceal the sisters’ existence. He also controlled all their movements and interactions with the outside world, ensuring that they never revealed their true identities. Furthermore, the early days of the CAB’s implementation were likely less technologically sophisticated, allowing Terrence to operate under the radar. His medical skills, as implied in the movie, also likely helped him to navigate any potential health-related interactions with the outside world that could expose them.
Q3: What is the “child allocation” process really about?
Contrary to the CAB’s public claim that extra children are cryogenically frozen, “child allocation” is a euphemism for the systematic elimination of these children. Nicolette Cayman orchestrates the murder of these children, claiming it’s a necessary evil to save humanity. This revelation exposes the hypocrisy and brutality at the heart of the CAB’s policies.
Q4: Why is Nicolette Cayman so determined to maintain the one-child policy?
Nicolette Cayman’s motivations are complex and driven by a mixture of genuine belief in her mission and a lust for power. While she initially presents herself as a savior of humanity, her actions reveal a darker agenda. She uses the one-child policy as a tool to control the population and consolidate her own authority, benefiting personally and politically from the system she has created. The suggestion is also made that the CAB is diverting the resources of the allocated children elsewhere, likely to benefit the powerful.
Q5: How does the film portray the ethical dilemmas of overpopulation and resource scarcity?
“What Happened on Monday” doesn’t shy away from presenting the complex ethical dilemmas surrounding overpopulation and resource scarcity. The film portrays the desperate measures taken by the CAB as a response to a genuine crisis, forcing viewers to confront the difficult choices that societies might face in the future. However, it also critiques the CAB’s methods, highlighting the dangers of totalitarian control and the dehumanization of individuals in the name of the greater good. The film implicitly argues for solutions that prioritize individual rights and humane treatment over draconian measures.
Q6: What role does technology play in the film’s dystopian world?
Technology plays a crucial role in “What Happened on Monday,” both as a tool for control and as a means of resistance. The CAB utilizes advanced surveillance technology to monitor the population and enforce the one-child policy. Biometric scanning, facial recognition, and tracking devices are all used to maintain order. However, the sisters also use technology to their advantage, hacking into CAB systems, manipulating data, and communicating with each other covertly. The film highlights the double-edged nature of technology in a dystopian setting, showcasing its potential for both oppression and liberation.
Q7: What are the key differences between each of the Settman sisters?
Each of the Settman sisters possesses a unique personality, skills, and experiences that differentiate them from one another:
- Monday: Appears to be the de facto leader and administrator of the group. Her disappearance sets the plot in motion.
- Tuesday: The tech expert, capable of hacking and manipulating computer systems.
- Wednesday: Skilled in martial arts and combat, often taking on the most dangerous missions.
- Thursday: Generally more reserved and thoughtful, often acting as the voice of reason.
- Friday: Focuses on forensic science and medical knowledge, playing a key support role in the sisters’ operations.
- Saturday: Party girl who enjoys her day out. Responsible for making contact with the outside world.
- Sunday: More compassionate and emotionally intelligent, often responsible for de-escalating conflicts.
Q8: How does the film address themes of sacrifice and selflessness?
The film is rife with acts of sacrifice and selflessness, primarily driven by the sisters’ unwavering loyalty to one another. Each sister is willing to risk her life to protect her siblings, demonstrating the powerful bond that has been forged through years of shared hardship. The ultimate sacrifice, hinted at towards the end, involves the survival of the unborn children, signifying a hope for a future free from the CAB’s oppressive control.
Q9: What are the potential real-world implications of the film’s themes?
“What Happened on Monday” serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked population growth and the ethical compromises that societies might make in response to resource scarcity. The film raises important questions about individual rights, government overreach, and the dehumanizing effects of totalitarian regimes. It prompts viewers to consider the long-term consequences of prioritizing collective survival over individual freedom.
Q10: What is the significance of the film’s ending?
The ending of “What Happened on Monday” offers a glimmer of hope amidst the bleakness of the dystopian world. With Cayman exposed and defeated, the one-child policy is overturned, and the Settman sisters, or what remains of them, are finally free to live their own lives. The survival of the two unborn children represents a future where individual lives are valued and the draconian measures of the CAB are relegated to the past. It represents a victory for individuality and the possibility of a more humane future.
Q11: How does the film use visual elements to create a sense of dystopia?
The film employs a range of visual elements to create a palpable sense of dystopia. The use of muted color palettes, cramped urban landscapes, and pervasive surveillance technology all contribute to the oppressive atmosphere. The stark contrast between the sisters’ confined apartment and the sterile, technologically advanced world outside further emphasizes their isolation and vulnerability. The heavy presence of CAB enforcers and the omnipresent propaganda reinforce the sense of constant control and surveillance.
Q12: Was Monday actually captured or did she betray the sisters?
The film initially leads viewers to believe that Monday was captured by the CAB. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that Monday betrayed her sisters, motivated by a desire to have a family of her own and escape the constant confinement. She made a deal with Cayman to have a child in exchange for information about the other sisters. This betrayal adds a layer of complexity to the story, highlighting the devastating impact of the dystopian environment on the sisters’ relationships and their individual desires.