Evil of the century: environment and disease in the film “Safe” (1995) by Todd Haynes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v18i2.4436Keywords:
Cinema, Risk society, Environment, Mental Health, Film analysisAbstract
The film "Safe" (1995), directed by Todd Haynes, tells the story of Carol White, an upper-middle-class housewife in Los Angeles, who begins to suffer from a mysterious allergy to the fruits of “modernity” (ultra-processed foods, synthetic products and pollution). Despite being made decades ago, the film is current in criticizing contemporary society, exploring the disconnection and existential void in environmental crises. The review delves into the dilemmas suffered by the character who, despite living in a wealthy environment, feels alienated and seeks refuge in a group that offers a pseudoscientific solution to her illness. The film positions itself as a critique of consumer society and the consequences of neoliberal policies, questioning the effectiveness of superficial solutions to deep, systemic problems.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Tiago Franklin Rodrigues Lucena, Roger Domenech Colacios, Rodrigo Corrêa Gontijo, Thiago Koiti Kikuchi
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