Divergent

I went to see Divergent on the weekend. I read the original novel by Veronica Roth the week before, so I was familiar with the story and the dystopian world she created. I was very interested in seeing how the film captured Roth's vision of a degenerated Chicago split into five factions. Overall, I was quite pleased with the cinematic adaptation and it fleshed out the themes of the book very nicely.

The world of Divergent is split into five factions, each prioritizing different values: Abnegation - Selflessness, Amity - Kindness, Candor - Honesty, Erudite - Intellect, and Dauntless - Bravery. Each faction enforces these virtues upon its members, to the point of everyone wearing the same style of clothing, and segregating into separate areas of the city resulting in factions not interacting with each other, or at least in very limited and confrontational encounters. Obviously, in a future where peace is supposedly upheld, the society is actually under strain by the conformity it demands. This is where our lead character Tris comes in, whose aptitude test determines her to be Divergent - one who does not fit into any one faction. Her mind seems to encompass all the virtues (particularly bravery, selflessness, and intellect).

The idea of breaking out of conformity is a common theme throughout the film. It stretches through the corrupt society down to the main characters themselves, embracing the idea of being true to themselves. The Dauntless instructor, Four, has a strong sense of who he wants to be when he reveals to Tris that he has the tattoos of all the factions, quoting "I want to be brave, and selfless, intelligent, honest, and kind." He recognizes that these are all valuable ideals to strive for and he doesn't need a government to tell him what ones to embrace. A lot of the ides presented here feel similar to Thoreau's ideas in his essay Civil Disobedience. If everyone did what the factions told them to, there wouldn't be peace. The idea is to think for yourself. Don't blindly follow.

The film follows the story of the novel quite well, although the pacing is wildly off. The novel slowly unfolds, allowing the characters to reveal some bits of information about themselves which is lost in the fast pace of the film (something that is usually a main difference between cinema and literature anyways). The world of the Divergent is created beautifully, presenting a vibrant world within a desolate Chicago that still thrives. The five factions are easy to tell apart based on their diverse styles amidst the ruinous city. For those who are worried that this is just another teen fantasy film, I must stress again the themes of corruptible society and civil disobedience. It is empowering for young people, and the characters Tris and Four are strong people who overcome a lot of hardships. Their positions in Dauntless force them to face their fears through a simulation program, presenting another major theme - facing your fears. The scenes of Tris fighting off flocks of crows, or being locked in a glass water tank are dream-like and eerie. Perhaps the most creative sequence in the whole film is Tris's aptitude test. She is transcended into a dream-state via a simulation serum, where she is surrounded by mirrors and talks to her own reflection. The sequence is high-tech in its visual execution and was, for me, the most unique sci-fi aspect of the movie.