Starring: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgaard, Ellen Page, Shiloh Fernandez, Patricia Clarkson, Jamey Sheridan.
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Runtime: 116 mins. Reviewed in Sep 2013
| 
| 
The title does not immediately indicate where this film is set or what its themes are.There is a prologue to the film where we see oil pollution in the ocean and its consequences for the beaches and, especially, for the bird life. A CEO is attacked for his responsibility for the disaster and a group sabotage his house, introducing oil to destroy it. The CEO resigns and retires. This is the work of an eco-terrorist group. Their name is The East.
The film was written by actress Brit Marling who appeared in Another Earth and Arbitrage. Her co-writer was the director, Zal Balmanglizze. TheyI had worked together on the film about a sect and brain-washing, The Sound of my Voice. In fact, The East with its drop-outs as eco-terrorists, this film is also about some brain-washing and the life of a secular sect.
Brit Marling is cast as a corporate spy. She is ambitious and has interviews with the chief, Sharon, played by Patricia Clarkson. And her partner at home thinks she works for the FBI and is sent to countries like Dubai. However, she goes undercover locally, following known rebels and possible terrorists, photographing them, sending the data in for verification. But she is caught by railway officials when they are stowing away on a train.She slashes her arm which gives reason for one of the group to take her to the headquarters for the doctor to stitch arm wound. As Sarah, she is received into the group, tested at a meal where everyone wears a straitjacket but has to feed themselves. She is surprised when they use a spoon with their mouth to feed each other. This gives something of a motif for their collaborative world where they target those who have committed ecological crimes.
She manages undercover, joining in the rituals, the hard life in the woods, allowing herself to be bathed by the group. She also goes back to report to the boss and discovers information about members of the group.
The nominal leader, Benji, is played by Alexander Skarsgaard. However, many of the practical decisions are made by Izzy, played by Ellen Page.
Sarah participates in what the group call a ‘jam’. This involves infiltrating a society party where the producers of pharmaceuticals are promoting a drug which the group thinks contains toxins and has affected members and their relatives. Sarah’s role is to distract one of the hosts, a sex addict. During the toast after the speeches, the guests drink champagne which includes the pharmaceutical. The jam is a success.
Another is planned, this time involving the pollution of water which has killed a young boy in the town area. They watch a television commercial with an official from the corporation explaining that the water is perfectly safe. This jam is partially successful but has a divisive effect on the group.
Because of her attachment to Benji and her feelings about the issues with which they are involved, Sarah is put in crisis, confronting Sharon, getting information that Benji wants, and having to make a decision to leave the country with him or not.
The screenplay is particularly interesting in view of many of the revelations about American surveillance of ordinary citizens to. As well as by such organizations as the FBI.The other interesting aspect of the film is the eco-terrorism and the criminality of the large corporations. Audience sympathy for Sarah, her work for the big companies and her undercover experience will depend on the attitude towards infiltration of protest groups and the guilty aspects of the companies which destroy the environment.
12 Random Films…
