12 Monkeys is a 1995 American science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam inspired by the short 1962 film La Jetee by Chris Marker. The film stars Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer, and David Morse. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the world is devastated by an unknown disease, where a convict is sent back in time to find its origin for a reduced sentence. 12 Monkeys is a study on the subjective nature of memories and the perception of reality.
The film takes place in 2035 were in 1996 5 billion people die from a deadly virus causing the survivors to live underground as the animals rule the earth. The film starts with a younger version of the protagonist James Cole watches his older self in disguise getting shot as the main female character in the film Kathryn runs after them as they are both in disguise. 12 Monkeys is a study on the subjective nature of memories and their effect on reality, these false memories are shown in Cole’s recollection of the airport shooting which is shown each time he has a dream. 12 Monkeys asks what ultimately reality is and are our memories reality could really every truly be perceived. Within this world they taker convicts and send them back in time to find the origins of the virus for reduced sentences. Within this story the protagonist James Cole is ultimately a Christ like figure in him being sent back in time to try and save the world. The film has an environmental message to it of man destroying the world as nature thrives.
The film is about how people cannot communicate in the modern world due to technology. James is treated like an object and not a person by the guards who act like robots, the technology in also infected the scientist with the technology shown behind them as they also talk like robots. In the year 1996 witch James is sent back to we see Kathryn the doctor and the main female character of the film being interrupted in an art lecture because of her phone showing how the lack of communication being humanities downfall. She diagnoses James as being insane when he isn’t, this again showcases the subjective nature of reality and the lack of communication being humanities downfall. From Riley’s perspective James reality is a delusion reality is ultimately due to the lack of communication with one another. With James being put in an asylum is further sows how people cannot communicate which each other as they think his insane as the lack of communication will be humanities downfall.
Throughout the film old media is used such as film and TV in the asylum. The constant refences to other media throughout the film shows that people cannot communicate to people through the media which leads to humanities downfall. Throughout the film there is this idea of reality vs delusion in that the perception of reality is never truly clear or true within someone’s mind. This is further reenforced with this idea of the lack of communication being a problem as the scientists from the past think Cole is crazy and therefore use their medicine to try and fix him. The film then flashbacks to show a young Cole and the events of his past. 12 Monkeys is a study on the subjective nature of memories and their effects on the perceptions of reality. An example of this false memory would be Cole’s recollection of the airport shooting, altered each time that shows a young Cole watching a blonde woman running after a man who has been shot. The environmental message of the film is shown throughout the film such as when Cole is sent to a mental institution where he meets Jefferey a mental patent and the main antagonist of the film who talks about how germs didn’t exist until the 18th century until a doctor discovered them. The environmental message is further shown as Cole watches animal experiments with Jeffry saying there all monkeys all animals. Witnessing this cruelty makes Cole suggest that humans should be whipped out subconsciously putting the idea into Jerry’s head. Pop culture refences are shown throughout the film such as the Marx’s brothers film monkey business. Jeffry then steals a key and distracts the guards for Cole to escape through time travel bringing him back.
A scene then shows James past as we see his younger self as he sees one of the terrorists. This again leads into the film’s themes of the subjective nature of memory and reality as the true form a personal induvial perspective might not necessary be considered real and events such as memories can be altered by the individual. James then talks to his own subconscious as another parent which is possibly a false reality showcasing James possibly going a little crazy, back in the future James is played a recording of Kathryn but it’s messed up. In the future James had recorded a message for the scientist but James does recall this because in his present he hasn’t done it yet. This demonstrates the films’ theme on the subjective nature of memories and their effects on the nature of reality. As James has not done the action in the pat Yet he does not remember it meaning this his reception of reality is different from the scientists back in the future who perceive his present reality as the past. This also demonstrates the declining ability of people to comminate through modern technology used for commination is ultimately what showcases the subjective nature of time.
The scientists scold Cole believing that he wasted his like on drugs, but Cole says he was forced to take drugs. A theme throughout 12 Monkeys is that Cole has a wasted life and wants to do something to help humanity. Cole then gets sent back to WW2 were aa solider shoots him. 12 Monkeys is a study on the subjective nature of memories. Within this film Cole creates new memories form events that he had only just created showcasing how memories are not just subjects of history. This again comments on the perception of reality and part of Coles reality are now within the past as there is not liner timeline of time and reality itself is very much warped through the perception of time. Within the film the protagonist James Cole is a Christ like figure trying to save humanity and like religious prophets he believes thew world is ending. 12 Monkeys uses what is known as the Cassandra complex in which an individual’s accurate prediction of a crisis is ignored or dismissed as you can’t change the past. As Riley does a book signing one of the people there talks nonsense halfway through the conversation as Riley ignores him not listening and continues to sign books. This shows that the film is partly about peoples declining ability to communicate in modern civilisation due to the interference of modern technology.
Cole then kidnaps Kathryn and forces her to drive. In this scene Cole enjoys the radio a lost piece of technology witch again showcasing how technology destroys humanity. Again, there references to time travel are throughout the film such as a time travel cartoon in the motel. The film then shows another flashforward as James gets shots and dies in the airport as Kathryn runs after him. 12 Monkeys is a study on the subjective nature of memories and their effect on the perceptions of reality. This notion of false memories is shown in Cole’s recollection of the airport shooting, which is altered each time he has a dream. These memories create a false reality that ultimately leads the characters and the world to its inevitable doom. James is here to collect information so scientists can make a cure and send it back in time. John seemly knows the future like a prophet. These biblical references are used throughout as shown with a scene with a religious preacher. Within the film James is presented as a Christ like figure by the preacher and throughout the story.
This idea of insanity and reality mixing is shown as an old homeless guy is sent back in time to spy on James. They then run into environmental activists/terrorists. These is a strong environmental massage in the film is that humanity has caused its own downfall. Jeffry the leader of the 12 Monkeys that was in the mental asylum with James employs guerrilla warfare in his environmental army to get information out of his dad. James and Kathryn talk about Jeffry and reality. This links into the subjective nature of memories and their false perceptions of reality James within his own memories creates a future for Jeffry this ultimately means that James creates his own reality through this perception of history. James talks to Jeffry about the 12 Monkeys. Jeffry tries to use his insanity to try and convince James is insane, but it doesn’t work. Jeffry tries to use insanity to try and convince James that his insane, but it doesn’t work. 12 Monkeys is about the subjective nature of memories, James knows his own mind and his own memories and understands the truth however Jeffry gives an alternative to his knowledge trying to change his perceptions of reality, Jeffry tries to convince Cole that his reality was created by himself, but Cole doesn’t buy it.
Again, there is an environmental message to the film in that Jeffry tries to convince James that they wanted to still his dad’s germs when they were in the asylum. James then slips into insanity and believes the reality of his own delusions and as this is going on. Kathryn realises that James is correct by seeing the news James knew. James meanwhiles has slipped into insanity as he believes the scientists are not real. This again links into the subjective nature of memories as even through James is, he believes he is delusional. This creates a warped perception of reality in which James has altered within his mind. Kathryn likens psychiatry to religion they say whose right and wrong who’s crazy and who’s not. She is ultimately having a crisis of faith again linking James to a Christ like character. The man that is sent to spy on James to manipulate his mind to stop him trying to save the planet. Finally prove is given to James being a time traveller with a WW1 bullet being stuck in him. James ultimately becomes addicted to a dying world and tricks scientists to go into what he believes to be the real world. This again showcases the subjective nature of memories in that he believes his time in the past to be where he belongs. This links into the perception of reality as he believes this past falsehood of reality as James is questioning his own reality.
Although Bob clams to be from the future he might just be crazy again showcasing the false perception of reality. Jeffry explains that James planted the idea in him about the 12 Monkeys as James and the scientists have inevitably doomed themselves. Kathryn tries to make James realise his right, but he still thinks his mad. This shows that their subjective nature on the perceptions of the notion of reality are now flipped in that Kathryn’s reality is what James showed her whilst James believes is delusions that Kathryn initial believed. This idea of the notion of reality being unknown is a theme throughout the film, as James wants the future to be unknown. James finally realises his reality is real and saves Kathryn from a pimp by attacking him and removing his teeth which are used to track agents. James then has a flashback to the future. Again, 12 Monkeys is about the subjective nature of memories in that he believes that his memories are correct and truthful. 12 Monkeys is also about the perceptions of reality it questions what realty means within a person’s subjective viewpoint and how reality can be warped, changed, and twisted. It ultimately turns out that this reality is real as the message Kathryn sent to the cleaning company about the 12 Monkeys was delivered in the future. As this is happing Jeffry kidnaps his dad who says his insane however Jeffry believes his not. This again links to the perception of reality in that Jeffry believes his own reality and acts accordingly just as James is doing.
James and Kathryn hide in a cinema playing Vertigo as they make up there discusses which are shown in the fast forward of their own deaths. Kathryn then transforms herself with a blonde wig into the heroine form Vertigo James sees her emerge from a red light like Scottie sees Judy emerge from a green light like in vertigo. As well as this composer Bernard Herman’s score and be heard as Kathryn wears the same coat Judy wore in the first part of vertigo. The 12 Monkeys then releases a bunch of animals. As Cole and Kathryn go to the airport to stop the terrorists, he recognises it from his dreams. This again highlights the subjective nature of memories and their effects on the perception of reality. This false memory is shown in Coles changing memory of the airport shooting showcasing that his memories are inaccurate and are therefore warping his reality. Reality and delusion merge within the climax as James talks to Bob on the toilet but it turns out to be a random guy. James then meets Jose who tries to give him a gun to kill the guy that has the bomb, James realises that he is just a pawn following orders and that his life is inconsequential. In the commotion the terrorist escapes and James gets shot and killed as Kathryn runs after him. He dies in her arms as the terrorist gets away and the young James watches on at his own death. This circular narrative to the film showcases the inevitability of the story you cannot change you past and the only way to improve life is in the present. Peters the terrorist then boards the plane and sits next to Jones one of the scientists from the future who comments that her job is insurance. The film ends with a young Cole watching the plane take off from the ground.
12 Monkeys is about the subjective nature of memories and reality. It demonstrates that humans can never truly know their own lives and the world they live in. It also showcases that the past can never be changed and that any hope to better the future in the past or know the true nature of memories and reality is impossible.