The comedy-drama “Captain Fantastic,” which was directed by Matt Ross, has emerged as one of the most notable examples of the need for disconnection, which takes the form of a yearning for authenticity and societal autonomy. One of the acute societal issues is brought up in this movie. Many individuals in today’s culture feel the need to “cut off” in order to re-engage with reality, and they can even daydream of living as their parents did. A family that has spent fifteen years living in the woods returns to civilization in the movie. They are now practically socially isolated and have learned to support themselves. However, Leslie’s passing pushes them to put aside their differences and re-enter society. The film focuses on this point in Ben’s reintegration when his childhood and life values conflict with societal conventions, criticism, and legal repercussions.
The Cash family, in particular Ben, supports those who purposefully disconnect from society in a way that makes them appear abnormal to the rest of society. Their interactions with other societies highlight how they differ from the norms of the dominant culture in their belief and practice. Director Matt Ross depicts societal discord in Captain Fantastic as a quest for authenticity that places emphasis on harmony with the body, the natural environment, and other physical entities. There are several instances in the movie where the Cash kids say things that modern people would consider inappropriate. For example, when the two younger ones instruct their older sibling on how to kill more efficiently while training or when they openly criticize people’s weight in public (Captain Fantastic). To the chagrin of his relatives, Ben is forthright with his children about rape, cocaine use, bipolar disorder, and their mother’s suicide, demonstrating their unwavering honesty.
The key aims of rigorous learning for kids are also self-reliance and social autonomy. They learn self-defense from Ben, who also arms them with actual weapons so they can defend themselves physically (Captain Fantastic). This might be seen as a critique of those who reside at the center of contemporary society and who depend excessively on a variety of services, particularly defense from the government and the military. In the end, it could not be the Cash family members who are cut off but rather regular individuals who have forgotten how to eat, how to get food, and how to interact with their physical environment.
But in the end, the movie does not seek to establish which societies are good and which are bad. Instead, the topic is how diverse social issues are triggered as a form of resistance. Heroes challenge modern society in their own unique ways, but they avoid excesses or overt radicalism. The notion that each person follows their own path comes to light in the end. Ben and Leslie Cash cut themselves apart from society while they simultaneously reject what they see as threats to this planet, particularly capitalism, consumerism, and government intrusion. They do this by pursuing a way of life that aims to get back as near to nature as possible. They attempted to establish a society that prioritizes economic independence and self-sufficiency, meeting only their most basic requirements and buying very little. By pushing the boundaries of social acceptability, the movie envisioned how far people might go in our pursuit of social authenticity. However, this is still taking place in the actual world. This would imply that social transformation is always feasible, regardless of how absurd human desires may seem.
Work Cited
Captain Fantastic. Directed by Matt Ross, ShivHans Pictures, 2016.