“Missing 2023” is a dystopian short film about a future where memories are bought and sold, and the government is corrupt. The story follows a man searching for his wife who has been erased from his memory. The film uses dark imagery and metaphors to convey its message about the dangers of a society where memories can be manipulated and controlled. It leaves the viewer feeling unsettled and questioning the ethics of memory technology.
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Review
Missing: The Power of Persuasion in the Midst of Political Unrest
Robert Cialdini, a renowned psychologist and author of “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” has identified six principles of persuasion. These are reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, and social proof. In the 1982 film “Missing,” directed by Costa-Gavras, these principles are on full display as we follow the story of an American journalist who goes missing during the Chilean coup d’état in 1973.
The film opens with a scene showing a group of American journalists covering the presidential campaign in Chile. One journalist is Charles Horman (John Shea), who becomes the main character in this story. He is seen as a free spirit and critical thinker who questions authority and starts to unravel the complexity of Chile’s political landscape.
When the coup led by General Augusto Pinochet occurs, Horman disappears mysteriously without any trace. His father Ed (Jack Lemmon) arrives in Chile to launch an investigation into his son’s disappearance with his daughter-in-law Beth (Sissy Spacek). As they venture through a labyrinthine bureaucracy and corrupt officials, they encounter resistance at every turn.
The principle of authority is evident throughout “Missing.” General Pinochet represents absolute power and has no time for anyone challenging his authority. In one scene where Ed is trying to get information from an official, he is told that he needs permission from higher authorities to access certain documents. This sentiment echoes throughout the film as those in power exert their control over others.
The principle of liking is integral to this story as well. Charles’ charismatic personality had won him many friends and admirers among both locals and other journalists in Chile. This made his disappearance especially devastating for those who knew him personally and amplified their desire to find out what happened to him.
Social proof can be seen in how Ed constantly relies on the testimony of others to help him piece together Charles’ fate. He compiles a dossier of witness accounts and relentlessly pursues any lead, however thin. This commitment to find his son is representative of the principle of consistency.
The cinematography in “Missing” shines at conveying a feeling of political unrest and tension. The filming style is often handheld, which reinforces the sense of disorientation and confusion that Ed experiences in his search for Charles. The editing also plays with time; scenes are intercut with flashbacks to give more context to what happened in Chile before the coup.
The soundtrack by Vangelis adds to the film’s haunting tone by creating an atmosphere that captures the fear and anxiety experienced by those affected by Pinochet’s regime. The score further emphasizes the stakes involved for those who sought justice against such a powerful adversary.
The film garnered numerous awards, including one for Jack Lemmon’s performance as Ed Horman at Cannes Film Festival. In many ways, this recognition reinforced the power of cinema to evoke emotions through storytelling. As Cialdini notes, storytelling can be a persuasive tool that appeals to our emotions rather than our reason.
At its core, “Missing” is about the struggle for truth in a world where truth is malleable and people can be easily persuaded. As Costa-Gavras stated in an interview about his film, “I don’t want people simply to see it as entertainment but as something that raises questions about what can happen when you think you’re living in a democracy.”
In conclusion, “Missing” remains relevant today because it forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about government power and propaganda. Its message is clear: we need to stay vigilant against those who seek to control us through persuasion or intimidation. By using storytelling as a tool for persuasion, Costa-Gavras created an enduring masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences years after its release.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 111
- Release : 2023-01-19
- Genre : Thriller, Mystery
- Cast : Storm Reid as June Allen, Joaquim de Almeida as Javier, Ken Leung as Kevin Lin, Amy Landecker as Heather Damore, Daniel Henney as Agent Elijah Park
- Crew : Timur Bekmambetov as Executive Producer, Smokey Cloud as First Assistant Sound Editor, Matt Russell as Visual Effects Producer, Lindsey Weissmueller as Casting Director, Anthony Brandonisio as Post Production Supervisor
- Popularity 59.217
- Budget : $7,000,000
- Revenue : $45,100,756
- Company : Stage 6 Films, Search Party, Bazelevs Entertainment
- Summary : When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers… and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
- Tagline : No one disappears without a trace.
