Shukhov In The Film One Day

The film felt like a visual representation of 1984 with myriad similarities in the ministry of information and the total control, but at the same time, total chaos. I was most intrigued and provoked by the representation of terrorists in the film and the innocent people caught in the crossfire. There is a clear connection between that representation as no one really ever finds out who the terrorists are and the current climate today in representing refugees as terrorists. This paranoia and fear of the other is instilled by the government and justifies their information regime. In a repressive regime like in Brazil, the government uses terrorists as a threat, seen in Helpmann’s speech in the beginning, to vacate responsibility for the lack of
In One Day, there is also a repressive regime, but much more far removed than the state in Brazil. Sam’s life is constantly intruded upon by the information gathered through the ducts that line the city. While in a labor camp in Siberia, I would argue that Shukhov has more autonomy than Sam. Sam really is only able to think and not be an appendage of the state through his dreams. Shukhov is more of a realist and, other than the ending, does not long for better times, but Shukhov is more so a realist who lives in the present. Both Shukhov and Sam have obligatory routines that are dictated by the government or overseers, but only Sam is constantly under watch and being listened to. There are thousands of workers who seem to be working, but, in reality, none of the workers really know how to perform any of the tasks when push comes to shove, because computers and apparatus’ have replaced them. It seemed that both Sam and Shukhov are just trying to get by and make it through their repressive life through working and not getting noticed. For Shukhov, though, work plays a palliative role in his life and helps him get through the day; whereas, for Sam, he does not enjoy work. Throughout the film, government workers appear to be busy running around when their ‘boss’ is watching them and then immediately watch Casablanca or some other old show when he closes the door. There seems to be