Miclat, Lila Jane C.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

BSN 2 – YA – 2

THE PLATFORM
(Directed by Galder Gaztelu – Urrutia)

INEQUALITY & GREEDINESS. The desire of the people in this movie for them to be able to
eat and survive is the main ethical dilemma. They were tested on how they will consume the
resources that they only have, ergo they also came to the point wherein they were tempted to
eat the flesh of other human and to kill each other when they had no other choice. Moreover, it
was also depicted in the movie how inequality becomes “the root of social evil” because as the
level of the platform goes to the bottom, the less likely the people down there will be able to eat.

JUSTICE system – the perfect present predicament of the world that this movie reflects.
Friedman (2016) said, “the government’s solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem,”
and worse is that the government itself is the problem. They are the ones who people can see as
the most privileged among all, and those who are not being noticed and given the opportunity
to have the rights they deserve remained to act like blindfolded because they have no choice but
to only shut their eyes and mouth, or else they will be victims of the violence and injustice that
are being done by those who are in the powerful upper or higher class. This system is very chronic
and evident in the whole world. Familiar with the song “Upuan”? “Bato-bato sa langit, ang
matamaan ay ‘wag magalit”.

In terms of the approach in justice, the concept of Egalitarian of John Rawls is what is
being employed by the protagonists in this film. Goreng and Baharat, including Imoguiri are the
ones who showed and led the equal distribution of goods specifically the food to each level of
platform. They led the exercise of fairness and arranged the inequalities being done by those in
the upper level, ergo those who are below and the least advantaged benefited and were able to
eat. These protagonists visualized that the food being sent to each level is enough to feed all of
them if there will be a ratio or equality, and that they will only eat and receive what they need
so that no one will starve.

Considering all of the facts, the little girl and the Panna Cotta serving as the message in
the ending of the movie shows hope and represents what life should be. That girl is the only one
and the last among all levels of the platform, but because of the protagonists mainly Goreng and
Baharat, the little girl had the chance to survive by eating the last, most expensive and most
precious Panna Cotta. That is what people should imitate to do, especially those powerful men
and women – mainly the government. As what is stated in one of John Lenon’s song, “Imagine
no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger; a brotherhood of man”. I don’t
know if people still need to imagine or just hope for a change, but it is in our hands if we will start
little by little to help those who are really in need. Until one day, the humanity will live as one.