Overview & Background
Tommy Wirkola’s “What Happened to Monday” is a dystopian, science fiction action thriller released in 2017. Max Botkin and Kerry Williamson wrote the screenplay, and Noomi Rapace stars as seven sisters living under a stringent one-child policy in a futuristic world. The cast also includes Willem Dafoe, Glenn Close, and Marwan Kenzari in supporting roles.
With production costs estimated around twenty million dollars, the film was released theatrically in certain regions as “Seven Sisters,” while Netflix acquired worldwide streaming rights in other territories. Exposing the societal hardships of overpopulation, authoritarian control, familial relationships, and coping in a repressive society are some of the themes tackled by the film.
Premise & Setting
The narrative focuses on an apocalypse caused by overpopulation; however, this issue has led to the creation of the European Federation which rules with an iron fist using the Child Allocation Bureau that enforces its one-child policy. Any additional siblings beyond the first-born child are believed to be placed into cryo-sleep until future revival, but there exists more sinister truths behind this statement.
Within this stifling environment, a woman undergoes the astonishing process of giving birth to septuplets. Following her death during childbirth, her father Terrence Settman begins raising the seven girls in secrecy. He trains them to share a singular identity of “Karen Settman,” naming them after the days of the week. Each sister gets to go out on her designated day and returns at night to give briefings on everything that took place. This way, the illusion of one woman persists.
Plot Summary
The narrative commences when Monday fails to return home one night—she is now unable to be tracked and automatically disqualified from returning home first so is forced into hiding for good—and Tuesday goes out to investigate. Her disappearance triggers a sequence of deadly events, revealing that the government has caught on to their secret.
With the surviving siblings in the form of Tuseday through Sabado they race against time trying to figure things out only for each one of them individually get dealt with by vicious agents and harsh politics as all 7 try overcoming obstacles separately. Eventually these characters face shocking revelation about population limit rules; instead of being put into cryo-sleep, additional senggoy toddlers are processed secretly executed in order to control toddler global numerics headcount under buffoons who think they’re running things where it seems all power givers believe it’s just numbers!
The sisters are ruthlessly hunted down and killed one by one. It is later revealed that Monday had betrayed all her sisters with the love she felt for Adrian, a man who worked with her but had no clue about her multiple personas. She made a deal with Nicolette Cayman, head of the Child Allocation Bureau, offering to betray her siblings in exchange for safety and position within the Bureau.
During the final battle, Monday used some of her last words to admit that she was carrying twins. Even though these children would be born in a world dominated by tyranny, their existence represents undying optimism. Thursday along with some other siblings reveal Cayman’s other crimes which results in an end to the one-child policy. In the last shot we see a transformed society full of compassion where Monday’s children could thrive.
Characters & Performances
Noomi Rapace plays all seven sisters—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday—with remarkable distinction. Each sister has a unique personality: Monday is rigid and calculating while Sunday is compassionate; Tuesday is curious and emotional; Wednesday is athletic; Thursday is rebellious; Friday is tech-savvy and carefree; Saturday completes the set as carefree. The film’s greatest strength comes from Rapace’s performance as it makes believable the portrayal of seven distinct characters.
Willem Dafoe plays the role of the girls’ grandfather, Terrence Settman, who covertly educates them on how to navigate through a dangerous world. Although Dafoe’s part is brief, he plays an important role in providing the psychological roots that form the emotional framework for the sisters’ identities.
Close depicts Cayman Nicolette, the primary hitman of population control as a cold, composed and ruthless commander of bureaucratic tyranny. She characterized Cayman Nicolette with extreme sociopathy, devoid of warmth or any familiarity.
Marwan Kenzari plays Adrian, appearing as Monday’s boyfriend and an oblivious cog in the larger conspiracy machinery. His relationship with Monday humanizes both the character and some parts of the storyline.
Direction & Style
Tommy Wirkola, described as an action and horror genre hybrid by peers works on this political thriller with relentless pacing reminiscent of suspenseful action while encompassing dystopian themes. Tight framing provides elements such as crafted action sequences complemented with nearly flawless choreography, elaborate chase scenes filled with artistry alongside set pieces depicting a cramped space bursting with tension illuminated danger and being watched closely enhances feeling of surveillance coupled claustrophobia dense set designs for emphasis. The visual palette speaks volumes about the overtly oppressive territory where dark and metal shades paint tormented sceneries.
While watching these films where multiple sisters perform parallel actions together are produced through careful application of limited body doubles alongside split-screen techniques such methods can be seen through motion-control giving fury where needed during multiple sister interactions providing a realistic touch considering how sparingly special effects are applied throughout rest of film showcasing meticulous planning from production team leads one to wonder what could have been achieved had they been used more liberally.
Themes and Analysis
- Identity and Individuality
The sisters personify different parts of humanity and individuality. The film interrogates the paradox of self-definition in situations which require compulsory imitation. Living as “Karen Settman” refers to shared existence which serves as a metaphor for authoritarian suppression, social conformity, enforced uniformity, or erasure of identity.
- Sacrifice and Survival
Their life exemplifies a dual existence where they freely choose to not express individual liberties in exchange for unity and collective existence. As the plot unfolds, these self-denial acts transform into emotional and physical martyrdoms throughout dominant narratives that strategically simplify human beings for the sake of social control without compassion or empathy—a critique regarding utilitarianism.
- Authoritariansim and Control
The film underscores warning signs about government surveillance systems, propaganda, population governance, censorship, as well as overall authoritative dominance. Beneath the guise of protecting the future of mankind through some Child Allocation Bureau policies is an overtly brutal dehumanizing posture whereby life is stripped off all meaning and simply counted.
- Family And Loyalty
Treccani defines filmic work as “the integral product resulting from production processes organzied by multiple authors.” It can also be defined at its most simple level: a story told with moving pictures . This narrative juxtaposes action picture reportage towards shifting focus onto sisterhood bolstered by bonds unlike any others devised along intertwining graphically portraying struggle with survival while layered richly colored emotions like love supporting their aims.
Reception
After its release, What Happened to Monday was rated with moderate to high acclaim. Critiques emphasize Noomi Rapace’s multi-role performance as a key highlight. Although the underlying premise and dystopic framework of the film captured much interest, some reviewers found genre shorthand overused and at times illogical.
Response from audiences remained positive overall, especially among skyscraper lovers and those fond of dystopian thrillers. The film gained initial traction as a popular streaming title; even subsequent to its initial release the film is still cherished for relatable emotional intensity, a strong dramatic lead, and the interesting questions it raises.
Conclusion
What happened to Monday is a science fiction thriller that contains action-packed sequences alongside intense emotional undertones. Totalitarian themes are examined from various angles through autonomous control breakdowns while still keeping viewers on edge with unyielding suspense intertwined with rich character-driven drama. The movie’s narrative is expertly crafted by Noomi Rapace’s seven roles depicting what freedom, family, and humanity entails.
The film captures its viewers whether they choose to see it as praise or critique revolving around state control versus unbreakable bond between siblings held tightly together.
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