When we thought the British Series Black Mirror had already taught us everything, comes Bandersnatch, the interactive Netflix film that seems to drive users of the platform crazy.
Black Mirror is characterized by presenting questions that invite reflection on the present, new technologies and their impact on our lives, which leads us to dystopias that could be real in a few years.
- However.
- With Bandersnatch a step has been taken: the viewer’s barrier has been broken as we usually know.
- We are presented with the film.
- Forced to make decisions that change the fate of the character.
Well, it’s true that as a film it may not be as good as expected, losing a few points, it doesn’t stand out from what Black Mirror stands out either, and certainly when the novelty happens, it won’t be. considered one of the great successes of the series, however, there is no doubt that the interest generated has been enormous.
The debate is now open, Black Mirror has reopened it, returned to the spotlight and, this time, has decided to reinvent itself, in some way. After four seasons (with a few episodes each), is there anyone who has thought about it?Will you continue to surprise the series? Just by looking at everything Bandersnatch has to say, the answer to this question is yes, Black Mirror is still very much alive.
WARNING: The item contains spoilers
Before delving into Bandersnatch’s questions, the first thing to do is to understand how the film works and why it is talked about as an interactive film.
When we talk about something interactive, we understand that there must be a dialogue and that, in a way, the receiver can give an answer. If we think of books, as readers our interaction is limited by the format itself, and so would cinema.
Well, it is true that there are literary or cinematic works that, in one way or another, involve the recipient and involve him in the work, an example can be seen in some films, such as Woody Allen’s Noivo Neuro-tico, Woody Allen’s Noivo Neuro-tico Noiva Nervosa, Miguel de Unamuno’s novel Nevoa, or in plays such as Buero Vallejo’s The Skylight. In previous examples, the fourth wall is broken, i. e. it is directed directly to the viewer or reader.
A very innovative novel in this regard is O Jogo da Amarelinha, by Julio Cortzar. In this document we go a little further, the reader is fundamental even when deciding the order in which the book will be read.
Cortzar proposes to follow a traditional order, that is, linear, starting with the first chapter and going to the last; or else follow one?which would begin in chapter 73 and for which the author offers a guide.
It was completely innovative in offering this kind of reading, which, especially in the 1980s, was going in a new direction and was it precisely in the 80s that Bandersnatch got used to it, showing himself as a style book?Choose your own adventure where readers will decide the path traveled through history.
Although Black Mirror still appears to be futuristic, Bandersnatch has come to the past, using early video games and old books as inspiration.
Cinema has also taken steps towards interaction. Early in his career, some filmmakers such as George Mélias appeared in some of his screenings to talk to the audience.
Likewise, the interaction can also occur spontaneously, as is the case with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the latter is a really special case and it is the audience who, for decades, has decided to dress up and interact with the film during screenings. example would be 3D movies that, without provoking dialogue, make us participate in some way.
Bandersnatch introduces us to Stefan, a young man whose mission is to develop a video game based on his favorite book, which follows the style of “choose your own adventure”. We know Stefan little by little, and we determine what we’ll see. next; that’s what the film proposes, in theory.
I mean in theory because, in fact, the film has several limitations and sometimes makes decisions for ourselves. And that’s where he loses, and at the same time Bandersnatch does things right. He loses some points because it’s tedious atrás. al the starting point, but he succeeds by sending a clear and direct message to the viewer.
Decisions range from Stefan’s breakfast to the decision whether or not to murder your father, from the simplest to the most complex. Is the discourse innovative because decisions are made quickly, following the rhythm of the film, which reminds us a lot of video games?? We must not forget that video games are the common thread.
Some of our decisions don’t belong to us. This happens, for example, when Stefan meets Colin and offers him LSD. If we decide not to take the drug, Colin will put it in our drink and look at the camera saying he’s decided for us.
Are our decisions limited? This doubt is again resolved by Colin during the hallucination of the LSD, claiming that the government controls us, that everything is absolutely manipulated and that we are definitely just slaves. We doubt both the film and our own daily decisions.
The most interesting thing happens when Stefan starts to realize that someone outside controls his actions, that is, us, the netflix viewers. Right now, there’s a breakup with the fourth wall, Stefan will ask us what’s going on, who controls it. and of course we’ll give the answer.
One of the answer options that may appear is: Netflix, something really interesting, as soon as you realize, Stefan will start disobeying us.
Genius comes when you tell your psychologist that someone from the future controls your actions through something called Netflix. It’s interesting because it breaks with traditional dystopia, the one whose future is terrifying. This time, dystopia is lived by Stefan and the future is us.
Dystopia is already there, in our present, already reaching the horrible future in which we thought we would never get there. This game with the viewer, in addition to being a good entertainment, leads to an important discourse and reflection. Again Black Mirror uses our gift to make us think.
In a way, this scene (especially when asked what Netflix is) resembles the Matrix, a film in which reality is simulated by a show, making you doubt the “real”.
It also takes us back to Nevoa, a work in which Unamuno manages to challenge the reader about his own reality. After watching Bandersnatch and trying out different endings, a multitude of questions open up before us.
Bandersnatch is a really interesting experience: the way of consumption has changed and Black Mirror wanted to enjoy it by experimenting, do we play with Bandersnatch, or was it the movie itself that played with us?At the same time, he proposes a forma. de of cinematic narrative, a new way of being a spectator.
Decidedly, although Bandersnatch is not a cinematic gem and is too slow to get to know film and video games, it is an entertainment experience that, if we know how to understand and appreciate it, will leave us with a strange feeling. Bandersnatch invites us to think.
“What does Netflix do ??. ? Bandersnatch-