Revolutionary Road (film)

Revolutionary Road
Directed by	Obidiah Mannis
Starring	Lee Proverbs Jesse Simotand Holli Wharton Priscilla Lindra
Running time	209 minutes
Country	Zamastan
Language	Caticeze-English
Budget	Z$32 million
Box office	Z$822 million

Revolutionary Road is a 2016 Zamastanian historical drama written and directed by Obidiah Mannis, staring Lee Proverbs, Jesse Simotand, Holli Wharton, and Priscilla Lindra. The film follows two storylines; that of two Vulkarians (Proverbs and Wharton) who find themselves on the Marxist-side of the 1982 Vulkaria Coup D'etat, and the President Cassious Castovia (Simotand) and his decisions that led to the invasion of Vulkaria, as well as his relationship with his wife, Mara (Lindra). The film won multiple awards and was critically acclaimed for its performances, score, production, and cinematography. It swept awards at the 90th Tofino Film Festival, recieving nominations in all related categories and winning 12 (half of all awards). With a production cost of Z$32 million, it grossed Z$822 million in the box office.

Plot

In the city of Amstelveen, Farhen (played by Proverbs) is working as a clerk at a convenience store when a squad of soldiers enters. They begin harassing him, but he remains defiant until they leave. As he heads home later that day, he notices smoke rising above the skyline and a body in the street. Horrified, he drinks himself to sleep.

In Tofino, President Castovia (played by Simotand) is alerted by his staff of the rise-up conflict in Vulkaria, but assure him that it is reserved to protests at the moment. He calls Prime Minister Yaan'a Tillman, who tells him that the Vulkarian military is standing ready to take whatever actions necessary to quell the riots, much to Castovia's dismay. Mara Castovia (played by Lindra) comforts him as he becomes visibly stressed.

Farhen begins his walk to work in the morning when he is caught in the midst of the riots. As police try to push the protesters back, Farhen notices a girl in an alley defending herself from a soldier who is attempting to rape her. He becomes overcome with emotion, and rushes the soldier, stabbing him to death with a shard of glass. He takes the girl to his shop, where she reveals her name as Amani (Wharton). Farhen and Amani discuss the political climate of Vulkaria, and decide that they must join the fight to direct change.

Castovia meets with the Vulkarian ambassador, who requests Zamastanian military support. Castovia declines, as the riots are turning heavily more popular in the public eye, though he assures the ambassador that Zamastan will support Tillman's extraction if need be.

Two weeks later, Farhen and Amani join a group of rebels who are headed to Vulkar to join the larger protest. As they arrive in the city, the protesters encounter blockades with tanks. When one protester shoots a soldier, the army opens fire, cutting down hundreds of the protesters. Farhen and Amani run away from the scene, where they encounter armed fighters. They are given weapons and convinced to join a militia liberation movement called the Malvarian Liberation Front.

Castovia is alerted of the massacre, and orders military aid to be halted indefinitely, calling the Prime Minister and telling him to step down, which the Minister refuses to do. In an impassioned speech to the Congress, the President declares that Zamastan will not stand in the way of democracy or the actions of either side, as both are morally flawed in their violence. He also declares that to respond to violence with violence will be the downfall of the human condition.

One week later, the rebels wait for a convoy to arrive. The rebel leader says that they are to kidnap the people inside and hold them for ransom, though he refuses to tell Farhen and Amani who the targets really are. As the convoy comes around the corner, the rebels attack. Opening the door to one of the SUV's, Farhen kills the guard inside and sees that among the suit-and-tie clad men, one is Prime Minister Yaan'a Tillman. Tillman pleads with him to be allowed to live, when Amani shoots him in the head. Farhen abandons the group to Amani's confusion.

Eugenia Charles is sworn in as the new Prime Minister following Tillman's death. As riots continue, Vulkarian soldiers begin a violent purge of M.L.F. fighters.

Farhen is encountered in his home by Amani, who pleads with him to rejoin the fight. Farhen pushes back, telling Amani that though he believes in the cause of equality for all and the corrupt morality of the government, he cannot bring himself to kill another person, saying "how does that make us any better than the violence that begets violence?" Amani, angered, leaves the apartment. As she wanders into the street, she sees a rebel beating a young boy. As she rushes in to try to stop him, the child stabs the man, killing him. Extending a hand to help the child, the boy's mother appears and shoots Amani, killing her. Farhen arrives just in time to see the event unfold, screaming in agony at the sight in front of him.

1 year later, at the Zian Presidential Mansion, Mara Castovia enters the Gaviria room, where she tries to convince Cassious to change his mind about declaring neutrality. She reminds him that if the rebels take over the government, Zamastan will lose an ally in Vulkaria. She also reminds him of the people that the rebels are killing, referring to the newspaper with the pictures of the Alanis Pride Parade Bombing. Castovia is distraught, and tells Mara that he needs time to think. As she leaves, he moves the newspaper to the side, revealing the document underneath entitled "Classified: Tidal Hawk".

Farhen has relocated to the countryside, where he is tending to a field. He is alerted to the roar of planes, looking across the hills and the nearby village to see Zamastanian bombers drop their bombs on the town. The camera pans to Farhen's face, horrified and crying.

The movie closes with real footage of President Castovia's address of the Zamastanian invasion of Vulkaria, as well as footage of real events from the Coup and the ensuing war.

Cast

• Lee Proverbs - Farhen; a store clerk who joins the fight against the Vulkarian government.
• Holli Wharton - Amani; a young woman who joins the fight against the Vulkarian government
• Jesse Simotand - President Cassious Castovia; the President of Zamastan
• Priscilla Lindra - Mara Castovia; the wife of the President of Zamastan
• Lucas Reminton - Yaan'a Tillman; the Prime Minister of Vulkaria
• Mia Warriona - Eugenia Charles; a cabinet administrator who becomes the Prime Minister of Vulkaria
• Hanna Barton - Maddin; a rebel fighter
• Jason Mcvey - Abbot; a rebel leader