Themes And Memes

On this episode, we look at the 2013 Indie Spy Drama, The East Directed by Zal Batmanglij. The film follows corporate intelligence operative 'Jane' (played by co-writer Brit Marling) as she is tasked with infiltrating a radical anarchist cell who have been attacking high profile industrialists in retaliation for their corporate crimes. Calling themselves 'The East', the group operates on an 'eye for an eye' strategy, targeting high level corporate executives with specific acts of violence to mirror the suffering of their victims.  After forging her cover identity and blending into the nomadic underground of anarchist drifters, 'Sarah' finds herself at the The East's secret headquarters and eventually adopts an active role within the group. As her time undercover wears on though, she begins to feel split loyalties between The East and her corporate employers; questioning her conservative worldview and developing genuine sympathy for the group and their anarchic cause.  But despite her political awakening and h