I just saw this movie for the first time, and correct me if I'm wrong, but does the text at the end of the movie state that World War three started several weeks later? If so, what exact is the point of that? It was a bit random, and although I enjoyed the rest of the movie, I found that scene rather confusing.
shareI saw that at the end of the movie too last night. I thought there was going to be a big mushroom scene at the end of the movie.
shareNot that confusing, if you accept the premise that the film was a humorous swipe at American capitalism and imperialism, cultural and otherwise. I mean even the Aborigine has been co-opted, (by his own choice)--playing the didjeridoo in the commercial (the Australian sound). Becker ultimately escapes the madness, but the wheels for war had already been set in motion (not only by Coca-Cola) but by the American Imperium as a whole. And the black humor inherent in the postscript is very Eastern European, remember director Makavejev is Serbian.
And how ABOUT that song? Coca-Cola has never come up with an ad tune as catchy as the one in the film--arguably not even "We Are the World"--but listen to the WORDS! If Coca-Cola was genuinely pleased with their "positive portrayal" in the film, and THAT was the reason no legal action was ever taken--well, that just shows how DENSE Coke management is! This flick is obviously slamming Coke, America, Marketing...which is what truly has us "by the throat."
Exactly! The fact that Coke had no problem with this film is, possibly, its greatest satirical coup.
And let's not forget about the final images of mice playing in their little plastic houses filled with plastic furniture. The metaphor is obvious (but not obvious to Coke, I guess), and probably even more disturbing than the advent of WWIII.
I *love* this movie. It's such a rare thing --- unabashed pop-art directed by a genuinely subversive madman. Reminds me of "Walker" by Alex Cox, but this is so much more deft with its inner rage...
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About World War 3. Think of it this way. A corporate flunky realizes that profit isn't everything. Oh My, Hell just froze over. It symbolizes the extreme shift in mentality.
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