Why It Works: Bong Joon-ho's SNOWPIERCER | Analysis

Snowpiercer, the Chris Evans led film directed by Oscar-winner Bong Joon-ho, should be talked about WAY more. If you've seen the film, let me tell you... Why It Works.
#WhyItWorks
#Snowpiercer
#Analysis
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[@gwenlovesmovies]

"If the entire system is broken... why participate?" Oof.... Yeah, this movie is a goddamn masterpiece!

[@takeawaypodcast]

I didnt get this line.. can you please explain

[@campkira]

so fuck everyone who just try to get by just so becuase your life is shit?

[@gwenlovesmovies]

@@campkira huh?

[@dg6289]

@@PriestessOfSlaanesh My guy is either simping to a fictional capitalist or should be hired for SNL

[@Spinexus]

I saw humanity killing itself or choosing to "finally" end itself. 2 people cant re-populate and even if they survive a bit it´s still fucking cold with no shelter or food. xD So it´s essentially the end BUT they chose to go out instead of slowly rotting in that train. Jea Bong said he thinks of it as a rebirth but that´s too crazy unrealistic for me. Just a "metaphor" ofc. Still too artsy for me.

[@gnaggy]

The "they've got no bullets" and "we need fire" scenes give me goosebumps every time

[@kingslayerx1716]

Ong

[@guicaldo7164]

The ending also raises another point: Even though the system is broken, the ending is bittersweet at best, and Joon-ho intentionally leaves it ambiguous as to whether the last two children will survive the next 5 minutes, let alone rebuild the human race. In the end, everyone Curtis was trying to protect died. The tail section he was trying to save was annihilated along with the rest. I interpreted this as a cautionary tale that looks at the other side of the coin: This is the price of revolution. Is it worth it? The system screwed a lot of people over, but it worked. If you tear the system down, can you rebuild something better? Or will you just be throwing humanity into a worse place than it was before? I love movies that don't treat these issues as simple and clear-cut. In the real world, it's rarely good vs evil, and revolutions are historically rarely humane, not to mention nations are sometimes left worse off. Snowpiercer understands this, so it doesn't portray either view as 100% right or wrong.

[@pran4649]

an argument could be made that even if humanity ceased to exist, it would be better than living a pointless life without any freedom in a metal box

[@guicaldo7164]

@@pran4649 Huh, good point, I hadn't thought about it from that angle. I suppose it's part of the "how much are you willing to sacrifice in the name of freedom?"-message

[@shrutefarms4741]

Gui Caldo both good arguments but one more thought is without some sort some freedoms being restrained, man has a way of destroying any and everything that isn’t himself. We’ve seen in history over and over and over again that it’s a fairy tale to think if we all have our freedoms that people will do the right thing. Tough issues with even tougher answers. They both think they are doing the best thing for mankind and in some aspects, they are both wrong and right at the same time.

[@dg6289]

Director Bong believes that those 2 will go on to rebuild humanity. My take on the movie is that the only way to dismantle the unequal, corporatist, classist system we live in is to tear it down and start a new. It's also a really good film about how those who want to keep the system going indoctrinate us from birth to believe that they are the only reason we are alive and they'd rather have us thank them, than think for ourselves. He shows how fake this all is when Song Kang Ho's character realises the ice is melting. One of the underrated parts is the school scene. The kids being taught to love the train are in the middle section of the train. To me this is clearly purposeful as it's about how the middle class is taught to be even more thankful to the system and to fear those below them, because that could have been them. The lie of upward social mobility and the fear of downward social mobility is what keeps the middle class aligned with those in charge and prevents them from working with the lower class to get better lives for both groups. While I'm here could someone explain the fish?

[@matildapalmqvist7424]

I see the the ending, regarding the two children surviving by the two fathers ultimate and spontaneous (instinctive?) decision to save their offspring (hope, future) and thereby obliterating themselves by literally shielding them. Young woman, younger man, (repopulation!) potenial prey or substinance(how to kill a polarbear), they have a chance to survive, against all odds (me not believing in those odds) and that is saying something about the human survival, and the (sometimes) contradictive altruistic instinct we have.

[@gideonwhite7476]

Normies version of Chris Evans: CAPTAIN AMERICA My Chris Evans: "Babies taste best"

[@yabar1028]

My Chris Evans: Sunshine

[@Liliquan]

And they do, hence the popularity of lamb.

[@vaultdweller_1234]

When you can't get your ears pierced, get your snow pierced.

[@Browntable]

*Mindblown*

[@antonboludo8886]

Nooooooo!

[@jonnyp1340]

Tfw the snow gets pierced in snowpiercer

[@comradepootis3665]

"A chad is a very cool person who loves film." Chads rise up.

[@justadummy8076]

James Merritt Chads are already at the top of the world

[@dccalling5960]

Bong Joon Ho is honestly my favorite director working today.

[@DaedalusR]

same

[@kingslayerx1716]

Same

[@MrSmartypants150]

I love that his films have purpose, everything on the screen is there for a reason, he really embodies what Scorsese preached about “cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out”

[@LoverboyMedia]

Bong Joon-ho is definitely a chad

[@Browntable]

No bro that's YOU

[@LoverboyMedia]

@@Browntable there's plenty of room in Chadsville

[@Noobmaster-nb7cr]

he gets all the hos

[@MeganABarns]

I love this movie so much. Curtis, like the viewer, thinks there is only forward or backwards. Those are his choices. It is Namgoong who shows that sideways is also an option. A fantastic movie.

[@imnotakingimnotagodiam..ab9455]

ayo never thought of it like that. Thanks

[@zabbas9371]

Bong Joon Ho? More like Bong Joon *Bro* Cause hes a bro...

[@WobblesandBean]

He is such a bro.

[@AnitaSleap1080z]

I'm so glad I watched Sexypiercer. And it's So true about Chris Evans, man. So freaking good. Great video! Is Knives Out a possible future topic?

[@Browntable]

If I find something to focus on about the film, most definitely!

[@yt-sh]

@@Browntable This is a beautiful video, great job!

[@mdnafieuhossainalif1628]

Lets be honest, Snowpiercer is the closest we’ll ever get to a direct sequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

[@ahmedmurtazamalik]

yes we all watched the video

[@thephantomoftheparadise5666]

I know right?

[@will_press7687]

There was a sequel to willy wonka and the chocolate factory

[@thephantomoftheparadise5666]

@@will_press7687 Charlie and the Glass Elevator.

[@ebensennett3095]

Yes and no one can convince me otherwise.

[@darkbuffet5710]

One of the most underrated films ever. Great stuff man! I also think this is one of the best scored movie ever. The music is truly masterful.

[@Fabian-lc8ms]

My theory is that the ending with the 2 survivors the boy and the girl signifies rebirth as in Adam and Eve even tho they probs get killed by that bear

[@WaterHazard86]

Can you do an analysis on The Lighthouse or Donnie Darko?

[@Browntable]

Idk about Darko as it's been talked about to death but I might do The Lighthouse at some point!

[@WaterHazard86]

@@Browntable Ooh! I'm so excited for your future content. Keep up the good work and stay safe! :3

[@TheronSorensen]

That clip from Taken made my brain hurt

[@Browntable]

Me too haha

[@fookinaye8277]

the worst is the scene of him jumping the fence. its like 30 cuts for a 8 second clip

[@mariomovies9260]

After Parasite I think it's in all of our best interests to see every bong joon ho film during this quarantine. Snowpiercer in particular is incredible.

[@IlijaBossrock]

Mother, Memories of Murder and The Host are also great movies.

[@campkira]

tv show coming afterward the Guy really got good support...

[@yourmomskitchen3236]

@@chandlerchapman-fong5734 you're wrong

[@wellifitisntme890]

Ah yes snowpiercer, everyone's favorite sequal to willy Wonka and the chocolate factory

[@MisakiZora]

The child in the hole scene reminds me of a question I found while reading about utilitarianism : suppose that the happiness of everyone in the society can be ensured by simply torturing one little child, would you let that happen?

[@mode4801]

The one where the maniac with the world ending toxin would be stopped only if his ten year old daughter was tortured and the event was broadcast? Yeah, that's a tough one. Not everyone is willing to die for a kid that they don't know.

[@chaos.corner]

"Sent from my IPhone"

[@keanureeves7987]

I've never watched this movie,planning on tomorrow!!

[@leecameron9226]

U will love it the weakest part for me is the ending doesn't stick the landing as much as I expected but its about the journey don't worry

[@IlijaBossrock]

@@leecameron9226 ending is fantastic

[@leecameron9226]

@@IlijaBossrock I wish I could agree it just felt a bit messy compared to the rest of the film in execution think I just liked the train so when it got destroyed bit underwhelming that the kids only survived

[@IlijaBossrock]

@@leecameron9226 Ending is almost perfect for me. It ask questions like: What if we destroy broken system? Can we survive? Does it wort it? Polar bear say that nature is not dead but also ask if we(people) can survive. And it also can be viewed like Adam and Eve or Noah arc. I just love open endings that i can think. Its matter of taste.

[@leecameron9226]

@@IlijaBossrock I love endings like that too this one just didn't work as well for me great movie tho And it doesn't tarnish the movie for me

[@Coleees]

Any of you guys see the video that this is a secret sequel to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory. It’s crazy man

[@GearWukong]

Ah yes, *Snowpiercer* , the one true sequel to *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* . Great movie.

[@olliverschroeder2776]

Snowpiercer was a crazy train ride emotionally and literally

[@scatkat1233]

Snowpiercer more like snowsterpiece.

[@kingmin9491]

You know after watching a lot of biams from you , i lost sense of when you're being sarcastic and when not.😂

[@Browntable]

My only sarcastic videos are BIAM videos tho lol

[@a.c.e5877]

I love that Boong Jong-ho finally got his work recognized more in the public. I remember talking about his directing skills and storytelling from Snowpiercer and The Host and people I know just scoffed his work when I was in high school and now people yell in my ears of if I have seen Parasite and have you heard of this "Little South Korean Director That Could" I cried a little bit inside but at least a few of my select friends did love his work prior to Parasite and how it helped shape his future works.

[@all_consuming_images]

Normal capitalist-critique movies: what if we eat the rich Snowpiercer: what if we eat the rich... but that’s what they wanted all along

[@comradesillyotter1537]

You have to destroy the very structure itself - the train - if you wish to overcome it

[@StraightEdgeSieghart]

@@comradesillyotter1537 Exactly. That's what happened to every revolutions that happened. America needs one as well.

[@morrischma9565]

When I watched this film for the first time, I just found it on Prime Video, not knowing who the director was but the film stunned me with how impactful it was. I just wanted an action film about fighting along a train with Captain America but i got so much more and it's been one of my favourite films since.

[@nicholassiple7838]

Such a good movie and Chris Evans has always been such a great actor and this movie reminds us that he is more than a Avenger. If there are any Chris Evans fans check out this movie and strongly suggest watching "Puncture" as well.

[@inugami78]

Thanks for the suggestion I will.

[@emilyr9237]

I'd also like to make the observation that its the young characters, ages 17 and younger than 5, that survive the revival of humanity. It could be seen as a comment on the reliance of humanity on "the next generation" where younger generations are seen to be the promise of a better future and will overall be able to fix the issues of the predating generations.

[@willlafoe1601]

I just watched this movie on Netflix like 3 days ago, you completely summed up my thoughts. Fantastic movie, even better video

[@StormMotion]

This is one of those movies that I could never get tired of rewatching! Pure masterpiece!

[@olbap2014]

Oh you mean the sequel to willy wonka and the chocolate factory

[@davidci]

Fun fact: Remember the scene where Curtis finds out that their protein bar was made of roaches and absolutely freaks out? You would think that, having the experience of eating actual babies, they would be a bit desensitized by that and react less. However, in the original, Curtis finds out that their food was actually... wait for it... the poop of the rich people. Now the reaction is merited. The roaches were just hastily CGI-ed on top of it to make it less gross.

[@Browntable]

Wild, I’ve never heard of that, I wonder if there’s an article on it

[@Browntable]

Or is that the graphic novel?

[@davidci]

@@Browntable I read it in an article somewhere.

[@plastic_cleopatra]

this video makes me wanna watch snowpiercer again for the first time

[@kkonacreed8638]

I came away from this movie with a different conclusion…from a more practical standpoint, yeah two people escape the train but that’s not the rebirth of humanity. Even if they have children, they will all eventually die out without any other genetic diversity. The end of the movie was basically humanity ending itself because it did not want to live in an immoral system anymore. The question then becomes should we live in an immoral system if it’s the only system we know, and by destroying that system are we destroying ourselves? Is the system part of who we are? There will always be those at the front and at the tail, and while that may be wrong and the system could be tweaked to be a little more egalitarian, if the system completely collapses, will we all collapse with it. It’s the choice between order or chaos, even if the order is horrifying and dehumanizing, the division and chaos may lead to the destruction of all things. I know a lot of you will disagree with this take but those are the things I came away from the movie thinking Besides the fact that it’s an awesome fucking movie, easily one of my top ten, right up there with fury road, fellowship of the ring, dark knight, Gettysburg…like seriously a masterpiece of filmmaking

[@Guh_roomer_Gravedigger]

The premise is flawed from the get go. I can't stand philosophical garbage, it is a very lazy way to tell a story. It does not take any real life situations into account for example the reason the rich use the poor = cheap labor, yet these people are just sitting around like lemmings accepting their fate for no other reason but that is their situation, until a HERO rises up to be their salvation, give me a f+king break. The message doesn't matter if the premise is flawed.

[@DanMAn5876]

This is one of my favorite movies and I enjoyed everything you had to say about it

[@calvin5541]

Your final conclusion is a dangerous one if you’re trying to draw parallels with humanity

[@wa.tashi_]

Just in general, one shot fight scenes are just mf masterpieces. Take old boy (2004) for example

[@jamesgodsend]

Ah yes gotta love Snowpiercer, the plot twist at the end is that they were all inside Thomas the Tank Engine right?

[@clockworkNate]

"If the entire system is corrupt, then why participate" because the system has grown so large that there's no where left to escape to. The people in Snow Piercer could stop and walk off the train but we can't stop and walk off the earth .... yet.

[@TheMaskman2005]

The system is broken, it have always been this way

[@csanders9987]

His movies r beautiful and they’re great storytelling machines, but I don’t fw body horror and this movie has a lot of it, or atleast I remember it to have alot

[@yourdad6122]

This video is good. But not x-men origins: wolverine good

[@SalmaH2795]

after watching this movie, i still had a question left if the snow was melting outside, couldn't Curtis wait a few more months (or years) for it to be safe to go outside and repopulate Earth, instead of blowing up the train and killing all of humanity left ?

[@takeawaypodcast]

He did not knew it untill be reached thd last gate

[@naginjuguna5388]

Sir. I've been bingeing your videos for the better part of 2 hours, and dare I say, you're a surgeon in your commentary field. I applaud you fully. Thank you. Back to it now.

[@bouncycow3010]

I love how you need to say that you are serious when you say masterpiece.

[@disc33]

Yesss. I've been waiting for this! THANK YOU!!

[@HassanHamid]

Well thank you for adding a movie to my quarantine rewatch list 😉

[@linaaviles430]

“What is ‘eat the rich’ is a lie?” Basically the whole point of Bong’s movies. It shows how fucked up everything is because of social class and shit.

[@dashreesh]

I’ve been saying that about Chris Evans acting I’ve always said he will eventually win an Oscar

[@jonnyp1340]

The shot composition in this film is literally godly

[@guillermoaguirre1091]

Me during the entire duration of this film: damn must be nice having a beard like that 💀😭

[@Claraclowns]

Yay! I love this film and I love this channel! It's a win-win for me

[@Browntable]

Awesome!

[@Bill-Piano]

When a "tail" get cut, it can "grow back" depending on what biological "system" you're looking at

[@torak_34]

Can’t wait for the Long Haul video

[@MagnitudeReviews]

Hi! I'm from the future where the entire world is on fire and the entire system set in place is being questioned and revolted against. Hopefully, our future doesn't end with a total reset of humanity, but more so one that changes the way in which life is perceived. Or for all I know is that they may be all for nothing as we are sent back to the tail of the train with no real progress being made. Just some food for thought here. The day that I am typing this comment for context reasons is June 1st, 2020. Right in the middle of the race riots that have formed from the result of a police officer stepping out of line, brutally murdering a black man named George Floyd which has angered not just the black community but also the entire world. All of this, because of the actions of one man with three accomplices.

[@vonssy9561]

Damn Mauricio, another amazing video! I’m about to rewatch Snowpiercer again because of this!

[@xHarpyx]

I just watched this movie. And I was just completely blown away. It was on my watchlist forever because I didn’t see Chris Evans as a good actor, so how good could it really be right? Boy was I wrong. On both fronts. I’m going to watch it again and holy hell have y’all seen the “ this is a sequel to Willy Wonka” video? I really enjoyed your take away. And damn the ending statement

[@WobblesandBean]

I dunno. This is one of those movies that really only works if you don't think too hard about it. The moment you try to apply any kind of logic to it, the whole thing falls apart.

[@LH-wd7mc]

This movie is definitely in my top 10, I’m so glad you covered it

[@usualavantgasp]

The idea you put when you explain the revolutionist/ the conformist/ the extremist is just 10/10

[@CUBETechie]

I love this movie

[@willblizard3610]

I agree with the Chris Evans slander (sarcasm) I never cared for the rigid 2d character he puts on in Captain America, he shrugs this in the beggining of snowpiercer. For 5 minutes maybe he seems rigid like an actor reading a translated script, but by the end man I was a Chris Evans fan for sure, and the scene where he executes the older woman. Priceless acting.

[@Somegoy]

It took me about 30 minutes of the film to realize it WAS Chris Evans. And from there I was absolutely stunned at how good of an actor he really is. He did great as Cap, but that didn't require a ton of acting prowess like this movie did. Although he's a bazillionaire from being cap I will actually defer to this movie if you want to see him really act and not just be a jacked superhero

[@islandplace7235]

Favorite movie

[@llamalloyd3196]

Hey Browntable if u like korean movies I'll give u some recommendations: Oldboy, Taegukgi: the brotherhood of war, the attorney, a taxi driver, nameless gangsters, new world, the wailing and the terror live. These are all great movie and u should watch them while u are on quarantine, be sure to ask for more when u finish watching all of them;)

[@TinyWondersInc]

This is one of the best, worst movies I've ever seen. Writing? Terrible. Acting? Decent. Absurdity? Yeeees. Over 1.5/10 score, but would recommend just for the interesting cluster this movie is.

[@linebeckrobbins6466]

I just watched the movie yesterday, then this video this morning, and MAN. yeah i totally agree with your analysis. Something thats strange to me storywise, is how instead of going to search for other survivors- because there are ways people could have survived, especially the ones who got caught in the tunnel, they start walking into the wilds. ... buuuuut going to search for survivors wouldnt be as cool as a shot like that. The thing that gave me the most chills in the movie was how everyone that was taken to the front against their will, no matter how few cars ahead- how brainwashed and indoctrinated they became. The violinist doesn’t react on seeing his friends. The protein bar maintenance man is happy for his friends but refuses to leave his station. the children, seeing Curtis, who they knew and who was absolutely basically an uncle to him, don’t react. the red headed boy just goes to the engine. speaking of the kids. Wilford speaks of the engine room being lonely and noisy. but theres children in his fucking cupboards. either he views them as entirely disposable so makes no attempts to parent, or. Something else that’s against the TOS. I REALLY hope its the first one. The lady with the measuring tape also gives me the heebie jeebies. Something I do like about the ending, though- I was entirely expecting both fathers to live, but then... neither do. its a subversion of expectations that i appreciate.

[@danc5644]

Its kind of weird, I don't really care for Chris Evans irl. I met him while I was in the military and he just gave off some pretty shaky vibes. Can't really explain it. But I can't doubt his acting prowess. The guy is a masterclass. I think Curtis is my favorite role of his.

[@abbadabaddest]

Snowpiercer is such a good movie. Ever since I saw the video that said it was a sequel to Willy Wonka I was in the hunt to watch it, so when it came to Netflix, I hopped on it like a real Chad would!

[@Pluzer]

I wonder why u were so afraid to say CAPITALISM, this movie is a critique to capitalism and somehow u didn't say a word about it.

[@itsmebennyb4286]

Are we just going to ignore that the movie ends with two small children getting stared down by a polar bear? Jokes aside, I slept on this movie for 9 years. I only watched it after dropping the not-so-good television series. It should be a must-watch for cinephiles.

[@tierk4328]

ngl, Snowpiercer is not my favourite Bong Joon-ho film. That honour has to go to 'Memories of Murder'.

[@Browntable]

Ah I've been meaning to watch that one, I haven't yet :(

[@IlijaBossrock]

My favourites are Memories of Murder and Parasite. I watched also Snowpiercer, Mother and Host and i love them all. I didnt saw bad(or even averge) movie by Bong Joon-ho.

[@legitimatemedicine]

This film is a great analogy for the anarchist tenet of deconstructing corruption by deconstructing power. Having a good king Curtis replace the bad king Wilford wouldn't solve the fundamental inequities in the system, so it must be destroyed for a new one to be built

[@gravityfallscanada]

Your interpretation of the ending makes no sense... You can't just not participate in the system that's what makes the ending horrible as they don't offer an alternative except death... They won't make it past that polar bear you didn't even mention...

[@brebytheway]

wow I completely forgot about the kronole subplot and how great the ending was 😂

[@rice-man9254]

Amazing Movie and an Amazing Video❤️❤️Thank you Mauricio!

[@Browntable]

GENERAL KENOBI!... Thank you!

[@rice-man9254]

@@Browntable Much Love Papi

[@graytex8665]

This is one of your best videos yet

[@bakwertgeek2544]

When @browntable states can afford colour if you truly wish to analyse it can be said as a metaphor to the terrible slavery of coloured people and that the wealthy were able to afford it. (P.S English isn't my first language and also i am just a 15-year old who is a wannabe film student so) 2:54

[@DigitalMadrigal]

Actually, I thought the movie's only flaw was the casting of Chris Evans.

[@gr7927]

Shits so dumb honestly, why does it have to go around the entire world?😭on the edge of steep ass cliffs? If it’s going all the way round the world I think it can take the 5 mile detour to avoid a fuckin cliff😭😭

[@stratotesphoenix4085]

This whole movie is about the Baker-Snowden Empire.

[@mid-sizesedan488]

I wonder what’s going to happen to the Asian girl and the black kid. There’s literally no one for them to survive.

[@ariniardyanti2549]

man you're the only one that really really REAALLLY explained this movie

[@kamalproductions6934]

This video is soo informative your my fav video essay guy superheroe movie dude

[@Browntable]

Thanks king

[@alchemist60]

I know this is a well made movie and all. I watch these videos praising it to try to do that too. I just did not like it. I couldn't get past the train itself. I just kept thinking that it was so stupid and didn't make any fucking sense. A train? A. Train. That runs forever on a track that isn't maintained over thousands of miles for decades when a simple rock slide could damage the track enough to kill them all. I just couldn't get past how much I hated the setup to appreciate anything else.

[@XykonNoir]

I don't care if I am the only one who was extremely disappointed by this film. Nobody cares about that too. No problem.

[@4KToday]

your 'why it works' sub series is the reason I subscribed to this channel 4 years ago

[@Plasmabolt64]

While the camera work is a lot better axe massacre, the scene before where they escaped the tail section had abysmal camerawork, looking much like that Taken 3 clip you showed.

[@ckaz007]

I'm a nihilist. My interpretation of this movie is that after finally leaving the train, the two survivors become polar bear poop in a few days.

[@GamelessOne]

More likely they would just freeze to death. Polar bears aren't particularly agressive, like most species of bears, they only become dangerous if you threaten their cubs or directly harrass them somehow.

[@scifience8297]

please do a BIAM on Turkish Star Wars

[@JarvisBaileyVA]

Hey Chadtable, do you lend any credence to the infamous "Wilford is Charlie Buckett" theory?

[@andysiegel725]

Amazing video! Really well thought out. Kronole?

[@jxohnhunter8723]

And thats broken shattered, split, removed done, its over. So since I gotta ask ill be ripping the house to shreds while u all laugh. Just because im lost and have nooooooooooo clue where things go or are.

[@joshualara4223]

0:16 "Bong Joon-ho? More like Bong Joon-faithful..." 😂Killed me

[@DigitalMadrigal]

Yes humanity reborn in a new world made perfect for polar bears. LOL!

[@ebensennett3095]

I am convinced Snow pierce is a sequel to Willy Wonka and you cannot convince me otherwise.