In 1968, a science-fiction film ‘The Planet of the Apes’ was released. Based on the book written by Pierre Boulle (1912-1994), this film was about an astronaut who landed on a foreign planet where apes enslaved humans. Following a big plot twist, four more sequels of the film were made, each with a rather lacklustre storyline and were more plot-driven than by the protagonist’s internal conflicts.
The film ‘The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes commences in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, with human civilization on the precipice of extinction as the ALZ-113 pandemic forces the planet Earth into a strict lockdown. Ten years have passed since the beginning of the lockdown, and humans have now been immunized against the virus. The cold colour palette of the film perfectly reflects its dark, gloomy atmosphere. The film is significantly relatable to audiences who have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. Only a handful of human-populated pockets have survived on Earth. Near the woods where the apes have taken refuge is a village utterly devoid of electricity.
The apes, meanwhile, have formed a sort of tribal system, with Caesar as the head. Two of Caesar’s closest companions are an orangutan called Maurice and a bonobo called Koba. Koba and Caesar possess very different personalities. While Caesar is more calm and collected, Koba lets his emotions take the wheel. Caesar is a chimpanzee, and Koba is a bonobo. Bonobos are docile and harmless, and chimpanzees are known to be aggressive and violent. This, however, does not reflect off of these two characters. Caesar has a soft spot for humans, whereas Koba has only seen their mercilessness. Koba wishes to enact his vengeance upon the humans and for the apes to declare war on them. Caesar, nonetheless, is aware of the horrors of war and knows that war begets war and mutual destruction. Despite their differences, Caesar and Koba get along like a house on fire.
Dreyfus, played by Gary Oldman, and a warm-hearted man called Malcolm, played by Jason Clarke, essentially rule the village. Dreyfus sends Malcolm and a few others to go and take an overview of the situation in the tribe of the apes and perhaps convince them to let both civilizations gain access to the dam. In the woods, Malcolm and Caesar discuss the issue of the dam. When push comes to shove, Caesar allows the humans to use the dam. Koba is enraged at this and argues vociferously with Caesar. Caesar, infuriated in turn, lunges at Koba and physically assaults him. Caesar regrets his decisions later on, but Koba’s heart has now hardened, and he begins to expose his true colours.
Filled with a burgeoning hatred towards humans and sympathetic apes, Koba indulges in ruthless murder, sparing apes due to the “Ape does not kill ape” law. His sole mission is to obliterate the human race. Despite an intriguing turn of events, Koba meets his demise, revealing the hypocrisy embedded in his personality. The film intricately weaves themes of friendship, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness, portraying a cinematic end. With outstanding performances, particularly from Andy Serkis, the film communicates its message effectively through minimal dialogue.
Leave a Reply