"Snowpiercer" is a brilliant, perfectly structured film. Except for a few bits at the beginning and end, all the action takes place on a train. The pace is fast moving, and yet the movie is profoundly thoughtful. As I re-watched scenes in order to write this review, the flawless efficiency of the dialogue struck me. Every utterance has significance and advances the plot.
The genius of the film is that viewers can ignore all of the craft, brilliant as it is, and still get an edge-of-the-seat ride.
Qualifying criteria for this movie review are the various elements in the Bechdel Test (https://bechdeltest.com/). "Snowpiercer" meets that standard, and goes beyond. Two major roles are played by outstanding actresses: Tilda Swinton, as Mason, and Octavia Spencer, as Tanya. Mason represents the train administration. Tanya represents forces that rebel against the administration. Mason caricatures a stereotypical bureaucrat. Tanya struggles against the cruel indifference of the bureaucracy, which has taken her son, Tim (played by Marcanthonee Reis).
Mason and Tanya confront each other in battle. Tanya slashes her way through defenders of the administration and Mason orders these defenders to kill the rebels. Tanya and Mason speak to one another in the movie, but speech is almost extraneous to action. At one point, when Mason has been subdued by the rebels, Octavia confronts her and demands to know where Tim is. Mason claims she has no information, and tries to lay responsibility with Wilford, the engineer and creator of the train. In another scene, which takes place in the train's sushi bar (!) Mason describes the logic of the train's design and Tanya, regarding Mason with disdain, speaks to her contemptuously.
There are other, important roles for women in the movie. Alison Pill (a teacher, not named) gives a glorious, parodic interpretation of a cult follower, as she instructs a class of young children. And Ko Asung portrays Yona, a young girl who is a drug addict, and who has the gift of second sight.
None of the women in the movie talk about men, unless it's about killing them, or following them into battle. And all of the women satisfy my own, fourth rule (added to Bechdel's): they're not objectified because of their gender.
When I was considering movies that might fit the bill for this contest, I briefly thought of "Alien". The lead in that movie, Ripley, is played brilliantly by Sigourney Weaver. But Weaver never would have been cast to play Ripley if she'd been thirty-five pounds heavier and ten years older. The camera lingers on her body, almost caresses it, when she undresses. The scene is akin to a striptease. This is not something the viewer would see if a male had been cast in the role.
Nothing in "Snowpiercer" resembles a tease. Swinton's physical appearance mirrors the grotesque behavior of her character. Her teeth stick out, her nose is misshapen, her hair is fashioned in a dull-colored, homely style. Octavia Spencer is dressed in rags. Her eye is swollen. Filth is smeared on her face. And, although Alison Pill is beauteous, her shimmery attractiveness is used for contrast, for parody. She looks and acts ridiculous. She is dressed prudishly, sings shrilly and pats her swollen belly to emphasize pregnancy.
The young girl, Yona, is essentially sexless. She's childlike. There is an exaggerated focus on her large eyes. She wears clothing that conceals the shape of her body. For much of the time she's lost in a large coat.
Stop reading here if you don't want to know how the movie ends.
Because this is a perfectly structured film, the end of the story is ordained at the beginning. We are given the history of the train in the first frame: The world is frozen and all people on earth have died, except for those who are on the train. The train is called the "Rattling Ark". The religious symbolism of this term is reinforced verbally and physically throughout the movie.
As a result of the rebellion, everyone on the Rattling Ark ultimately perishes, except for two people. The train is overwhelmed by an inundation, not of water but of snow--frozen water. The two survivors are Tim and Yona. This pair, male and female, exit from the train holding hands. The first thing they see is a polar bear, which suggests life is possible.
It is in these two children, we are led to believe, that the future of the human race resides. As Joon-ho Bong, director/writer, explains, "Those two kids will spread the human race". Refer to his interview in "Vulture": http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/snowpiecer-movie-discussion.html
There is so much in this film to please viewers. I haven't touched on much of it. The movie is constructed like a fantastic puzzle where each piece plays a crucial role. The effect of this mosaic is visually and intellectually satisfying. But viewers don't have to think about any of that to enjoy themselves. " Snowpiercer" is, at its heart, an entertaining film. Just sit back and let its magic work.
All of the images were uploaded from Wikimedia Commons and are in the public domain.