Synopsis
What Happened to Monday is a dystopian science fiction thriller directed by Tommy Wirkola. It handles issues such as identity, freedom, and social control. The film is set in a grim future shaped by the government’s extreme authoritarian control spurred by overpopulation and climate crises. Released in 2017, the film tackles themes of sisterhood, sacrifice, and survival within a deeply emotional and action-packed narrative.
The story takes place in a totalitarian regime ruled by the Child Allocation Bureau, headed by the steely and pragmatic Nicolette Cayman (portrayed by Glenn Close). To manage the food crisis and prevent further climate disasters, the bureau enforces a draconian one child policy. Any additional siblings beyond the first are cryogenically frozen with the promise of being revived in a more stable time. Day-to-day life includes pervasive surveillance, biometric tracking, and brutal enforcement of the law.
Even under this cruel regime, a man named Terrence Settman (Willem Defoe) conceals a astonishing secret: his daughter who dies in a hospital giving birth to seven genetically identical girls. Rather than surrender six of them to the government, Terrence secretively raises all seven and names them after the days of the week. Each sister is allowed to go outside only on the day corresponding to her name and for the sake of not being detected, they all assume the shared identity of “Karen Settman.”
The sisters become known as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Living in a tightly monitored apartment, the sisters pose a single person in public. Quite the opposite to them being a single unit, they are a ensemble in public their personalities differ greatly, like in a orchestra: Monday (Noomi Rapace) is the responsible leader, Spiritual Tuesday, athletic Wednesday, rebellious Wednesday, intellectual Friday, nurturer Sunday and fun loving Saturday. To maintain the continuous persona of Karen, daily communication is imperative.
Chaos disorder sets in when the final straw occurs with Mondays disappearance. Each sister goes on a adventure exploring what happened wearing different faces along the way leading them to a calm yet perilous path layered in risk. It is clear that someone very powerful is sitting on top of this and just like elaborate traps waiting to catch and kill them all in order to maintain safe their interests.
The plot now becomes a chilling freefall into a deadly conspiracy. The public face of the one-child policy, Nicolette Cayman, is exposed for her nefarious operations; her so-called cryogenic freezing is euthanasia. The Settman Sisters are viewed as threats to both the legitimacy of the policy and the authority of the bureau.
As the story unfolds, the sisters are gradually hunted and executed. Each sister in turn either sacrifices themselves or is killed in an attempt to uncover the truth, which allows Thursday, the boldest and most emotionally rich sister, to lead the concluding battle.
The film reaches its climax with a show-stopping duel between Thursday and Nicolette. The shocking revelation that Monday, the seemingly responsible eldest sister, is the betrayer adds a twist. She struck a bargain with the bureau to live a life for herself and her unborn children, paradoxically, choosing to exist as a singleton instead of as a part of a collection. The impact of her betrayal alters the story in an emotionally profound and complex manner, shifting the dividing line between villainy and act of desperation.
Ultimately, Thursday unearths the government’s deceit before a global audience, unveiling the execution of children under the guise of cryogenic preservation. Cayman is apprehended, and the one-child policy is revoked. The film concludes with Monday dying post childbirth and her twins epitomizing hope for a humanity on the cusp of rediscovery.
Cast and Performances
Noomi Rapace as the Settman Sisters – Strikingly, each sister is individually personified by Rapace with unique voices and emotions. Noomi’s mastery to switch and shift between characters carries the movie and proves her talent. Regardless of being portrayed by a single actress, all sisters feel as individual characters.
Willem Dafoe as Terrence Settman – Infusing the role of the grandfather with warmth and stoicism, Dafoe anchors the story emotionally. His performance is filled with quiet strength, moral conflict, and deep affection for his granddaughters.
Glenn Close as Nicolette Cayman – Opposite Dafoe, Cayman is portrayed with cold focus and meticulous calculation. The nuance of her performance makes her not simply a villain. Cayman’s authoritarian approach, rooted in a genuine belief of working toward the greater good, makes her chilling.
Marwan Kenzari as Adrian Knowles – As a love interest intertwined with the sisters’ secret, Adrian serves to humanize Monday. While his truth-revealing journey adds emotional stakes, it also complicates the narrative’s undertones.
Themes and Symbolism
- Identity and Individuality
The film delves into the multifaceted aspects of identity, including experience and choice. Each sister, while genetically identical, is individually defined by her character. Their shared identity as “Karen Settman” symbolizes oppression—each relinquishes personal autonomy for the sake of collective existence. Betrayal, in the form of Montag, stems from an attempt to reclaim individuality and autonomy on her own terms.
- Surveillance and Control
The Child Allocation Bureau epitomizes the dangers of a totalitarian state. Surveillance cameras, biometric scanning, and data tracking depict a society where freedom is nonexistent and privacy is but a distant memory. The sisters’ secret lives reinforce the theme of defiance against the ever-watchful eye of authority.
- Moral Ambiguity and Sacrifice
Characters in the film do not epitomize the black and white of morality. Terrance breaks the law in order to save his grandkids but also neglects their wellbeing by enforcing a rigid and unhealthy lifestyle. Monday betrays her siblings but her motives, which stem from fear, love, and yearning, reveal her humanity. The theme of sacrifice, whether selfless or selfish, is frequently addressed.
- Gender and Societal Roles
The film intersects with the ideas of reproduction, societal norms, and self-governance while portraying seven women in a misogynistic dystopia. The sisters’ ability to survive, confront, and outsmart an oppressive system propels a feminist narrative of empowerment through resistance, thus framing the story’s core conflict.
Direction, Cinematography, and Style
Wirkola has long been associated as a director with darker genre tendencies and his work on What Happened to Monday continues that trend, this time employing precise pacing, tension control, and sharp action balance. The film is fast paced, seamlessly integrating emotional connection and intense action. While the sequence depicting multiple versions of Noomi Rapace, interspersed and replicated in one shot, exhibited flawless visual effect integration, the underlying set design supporting the dystopian atmosphere remained sharp, metallic and claustrophobic.
Fight choreography also deserves praise. Unlike the typical superhero archetype, the sisters experience pain and failure, counterable through wits rather than sheer strength. These grounded action sequences help maintain the film’s believability amid its science fiction setting.
The film’s somber setting is captured by muted blues and grays, supporting the bleak world depicted. The cinematography succeeds in showcasing the oppressive outside world, as well as the tense and emotional inner world of the sisters’ apartment.
Reception and Critical Response
What Happened to Monday has garnered an overall positive reception, though mixed among various critics. Viewers appreciated the film’s intriguing premise, its emotional depth, and Rapace’s performance. It has an IMDb rating of approximately 6.9 out of 10, with the majority of the audience praising the film’s balance of engaging action with deep, thought-provoking ideas.
Critics appeared to be divided regarding its execution. A number of them seemed to believe that the film attempted to juggle too many genres—sci-fi, into thriller, family drama—which at times led to inconsistent emotional and tonal shifts. Others thought the concept was captivating, but argued that the plot relied on stock tropes all too frequently.
Regardless, the emotional centerpiece of sisterhood, paired with strong performances, overshadowed these critiques for most viewers. The film is described as striking and satisfying due to its narrative layered with ethical questions.
Conclusion
What Happened to Monday is a striking combination of a dystopian futuristic narrative and an emotional family drama. With a central performance by Noomi Rapace portraying multiple characters, the film beautifully stitches in themes of identity and personal freedom alongside family loyalty. The film makes one reflect on control and power that is hauntingly real.
Instead of addressing themes with direct answers, the narrative is woven into a world where fear, love, loyalty, and survival intertwine. It is a deeply human film that feels futuristic and compelling while tackling moral dilemmas with finesse. It entertains, provokes thought, and inspires one to reflect deeply.
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