"The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio in full goofball mode, playing a stoned, washed-up activist forced to go on the run in order to save his and his daughter's lives. One Battle After Another is a timeless but timely thrill ride with fascist military goons, devoted revolutionaries, and fiery protests. Anderson's portrait of a galvanized world is just as chaotic and ugly as our own, but his humanist approach both deepens the narrative and lets the movie's cast get away with skirting real-life political comparisons."
"We live in this world, and we're not blind."
"And we're not too dumb, but you have to be able to focus on something you can hold in your hand. Obviously, [politics] come into focus in the background, but if they dominate your story, the audience will lose interest. I think I would lose interest."
One Battle After Another follows a stoned, washed-up activist who must flee to save himself and his daughter amid rising political violence. The film stages confrontations between fascist military forces, devoted revolutionaries, and fiery protests to create a chaotic, galvanized world that mirrors contemporary polarization. The narrative foregrounds human relationships and personal stakes, showing politics through character actions rather than polemical speeches. A focus on tangible, intimate elements keeps the audience engaged while allowing the film to address political extremism and the search for belonging without overt real-life comparisons.
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