|
The film "Mirage" explores the issue of alienation and its relation to urban life. It also evaluates capitalism and its penetration throughout society, as well as the effects the media has on people's lives. These three major components cause David Stillwell, the main character, and other characters to feel alienated in the overwhelming city of New York. The first issue regarding alienation is the city itself: does it cause people to feel alienated, or do people make themselves feel alienated? Also, there is the element of capitalism, or big business. To capitalists, money is viewed as the most important necessity in a society where everything is bought and sold. True values are replaced with the pursuit of money. Another major aspect of alienation is the media, which deals with the effects television has on society. News, life issues, and commercials are all shown on the same level, and advertisers are constantly pushing viewers to purchase material things. The city plays a major role in alienation. David Stillwell is suffering from amnesia and he believes he is an accountant when in reality he is a physio-chemist. He struggles with his identity in the bustling, impersonal city of New York. Everyone is rushing along on the streets, and the people on the subway appear to be zombies. When David Stillwell's boss, Charles Calvin, dies because of a freak fall from his office window, the remarks from onlookers show indifference. The city's inhabitants do not want to get involved in anything that does not directly affect them. Sheila, Stillwell's ex-mistress, says, "people go willingly" toward being used. In most cases, people tend to disregard the state of society's well-being and their own spiritual well-being. The second major cause of alienation is capitalism. The system that converts units of production and people into dollars dominates society. Even relationships are controlled by money. Capitalism does not allow people to reflect on the meaning of life. This urban value system has molded the masses into robots. Josephson, Stillwell's co-worker, is controlled by money and completely caught up in the Major's institution. Josephson is paid three times what he is worth and feels guilty. Like many other believers in capitalism, he does not ask questions or stand up for what is right, until the final scene of the film when he is given the opportunity and support from Stillwell to turn his crooked employer in, and Josephson commits to doing so. A third cause of alienation is the media. On television, one can watch an advertisement about the glory of purchasing a new kitchen and the next moment a news announcement of a person having committed suicide. People are presented with this 24 hours a day. Everything is put on the same level of importance; it all shares the same status. Television also plays a role as babysitter. Children learn from an early age to believe the superficial world of television programming. When Stillwell and Sheila are welcomed into the apartment of a young girl, she tells them that her parents are both working. One can infer that the television, in reality, is the girl's babysitter. Through the television, she is taught superficial values, lacking the time, love, and attention that only a human being can provide. These three main elements of alienation all cause Stillwell to feel that he lives in a world where superficiality reigns and true companionship is absent. However, he does ultimately rediscover his identity and triumphs despite adversity. Stillwell realizes that he is not perfect and that he does need support, righteousness, and love in his life. Through coming to know who he truly is, he transcends the shallow world of capitalism, the city, and the media. Stillwell also learns that that it is up to him to choose his own destiny. He discovers that many people choose to be molded by the city by not making the effort to be more aware of the state of the society that they live in and of what they are committing themselves to. Ultimately, Stillwell and Sheila embrace, knowing that they will survive and move forward by making the commitment to help one another. They decide to take charge of their own lives and create a new and better reality for themselves.  |
