QUESTION AUTHORITY!
Question Authority!
Swift shot: In the 70’s, Yale University (where else?) conducted a now infamous experiment on obedience, you can read all about the Milgram Experiment here. Essentially, it proved that people were all too willing, given the slightest bit of authority, to punish or otherwise control their fellow man. I heard about the McDonald’s “prank call” event a few years ago, where a caller pretended to be an officer and manipulated a store manager into performing a strip-search on one of her female employees. Compliance, directed by Craig Zobel gives you a chilling behind-the-scenes look at this American tragedy. Why is it a tragedy? Because it illustrates how easily controlled, and stupid, we have become as a nation.
Ann Dowd plays ChickWich (AKA McDonald’s) store manager, Sandra, who has the spine of a flatworm! In the audience’s introduction to her, we see how she lets a subservient humiliate her . . . and she doesn’t stand up to her bully. She is the perfect patsy for what happens next. And, mind you, the entire film you will be practically screaming at the screen . . . oh, COME ON, no one is that stupid, that easily fooled, that so willing to . . . comply. But, stick around for the final credits for a chilling surprise of just how many people are in fact incredibly . . . compliant.
Sandra has a busy Friday ahead of her, and someone left the cooler open the night before and all the bacon was ruined. There is a secret-shopper expected at the store, and with no pickles and no bacon, Friday is not going to be a fun night. She barely manages to control her young workers, chiefly Becky, Kevin and Connie. Lucky she has Marti (Ashlie Atkinson) as a kind of go-between, but even Marti doesn’t possess enough backbone to say what everyone should be saying throughout the film. “NO!” And, this isn’t just a film, it is a dramatic re-enactment of actual events.
An “Officer Daniels” is on the phone asking to speak to the store manager. Sandra speaks to him as he explains that one of her employees stole from a customer’s purse and is describing one of her employees to him. The description matches Becky (Dreama Walker) a thin, blonde 19 year old who is working the register. He asks Sandra to go get Becky and bring her to the backroom. Sandra . . . complies.
Officer Daniels explains that Sandra needs to search Becky for the missing money, and Becky at first says no, but then the Officer asks to speak to Becky. Using the threat of jail time on Becky, he convinces her that if she has nothing to hide she won’t mind, and if she did do it, she’ll be behind bars longer as he will make sure to note that she didn’t cooperate. Becky . . . complies. Sandra searches Becky’s apron and her pockets. Of course, there is nothing. Not convinced, the Officer instructs Sandra to escort Becky to her employee locker and confiscate her cellphone and search her purse for the money. Becky and Sandra . . . comply. So far, Becky’s civil rights have been violated twice, and she is nervous, but afraid this Officer holds some power over her, she doesn’t raise that much of a fuss.
Sandra, being a perfect sap, follows the next instruction which is to have Becky wait for him to arrive. But, there is one more thing he needs before he can show up. He needs Sandra to strip-search Becky. Instead of consulting the store manual, Sandra (who thinks the Officer is also speaking to her Regional Manager on the other line) . . . complies. Becky wants NO part of this, this has gone on long enough, but like a church-mouse, she only manages a feeble defense when Sandra puts her on the phone with Officer Daniels. Sandra and Becky . . . comply.
She is down to her skivvies now, humiliated and frightened . . . at this point, the film shifts to where you always knew it was going. A Sub-Dom fantasy is being created before your eyes, as Officer Daniels is controlling not just Sandra, and not just Becky, but everyone who gets sent to the backroom.
Ultimately, what happens next should only ever happen in those fantasies, where reality should kick in and everyone should say . . . “NO!” But, Officer Daniels chose the perfect target, and even he can’t believe his luck as by the film’s end, “bad things” surpassing a mere strip-search happen to Becky.
Dreama Walker is spectacular under Zobel’s direction. She literally looks like a scared, scarred fawn, with large eyes and a frail frame. She is terrified, and she gives herself to the role in a way that is completely off-putting.
The tension in this film is real, backed by the fact that this event actually happened, it is a chilling commentary on how easy it is to manipulate the meek.
I was really impressed with Craig Zobel’s direction, it was strangely akin to Refn in execution. The music was almost like a dirge to common sense, which was sadly lacking in most of the characters in the film. Zobel used a lot of close-up work, and each actor really delivered a credible performance, maybe with the exception of Kevin (Phillip Ettinger). His performance was not as genuine as the other cast members.
For obvious reasons, this is a film not intended for younger audiences, but it serves as a reminder to that most sacred of American ideals . . . freedom is not just some buzz word. It is only real if you understand that it applies to you. You are allowed to question authority – in fact, you should question how those people even GOT authority in the first place!
If you don’t watch this film, at least brush off the Bill of Rights and realize that you have them. You have a right to deny illegal detainment, illegal search and seizure and you sure as hell have a right to keep your private parts, private. The day we let compliance over-rule freedom is the day we’re trapped in not a fantasy, but a nightmare!
