Analysis Of Polanski's Carnage

In Polanski 's Carnage many observations are made of society, both good and bad, and these observations are explored and portrayed by formal elements. These observations would include the masks one wears in society, the role of woman in society, technology, careers as well as the formal elements which portray these observations such as the apartment and its significance as well as type of shots in the film.
In society there is an unsaid pressure to be a certain way such as to be happy and be 'perfect ' in every way which forces people to act in a certain way that is not natural to them. A façade is then created, and it is often said that the individual creating this façade is wearing a mask. The film explores this and ultimately proves that

In a society conforming to patriarchy the women 's places is said to be in the kitchen; in this film we see that in some instances this archaic belief is still the case. This is seen when Nancy expresses that her husband (Alan) believes that everything to do with the house, school and backyard are her domain. Nancy, somewhat, defies this stereotypical role by working and admitting that she does not always find pleasure in cleaning and looking after the children. Penelope however in the beginning of the film plays into this stereotype; she plays the dutiful wife by cooking, cleaning and being a stay at home mother. Women and how society stereotypically sees them role is also seen by all the comments Alan makes throughout the film such as 'Women always think you need the man, the father, like it will do any good ' and 'Women think too much '. These comments play into the outdated role of women in society as they make it seem like women are overly emotional and dependent on men. The film explores not only the stereotypical version of women in society but also the modern women in society through both Nancy and

The film explores this through how the characters interact with one another after finding out what their respective occupations are. When Michael finds out that Alan is an attorney he instantly sees him in another light and eventually calls his career a 'funny one '; Michael sees Alan as more educated, egotistical and trust worthy as he believes Alan when Alan discusses the negative impact of the drugs Michaels mother is taking and even lets him speak to his mother on the phone. Alan 's lack of respect for the so called 'blue collar ' work Michael does is seen in how he talks down to him and how he dismisses Michael 's work by either not discussing it further or mocking him by asking demeaning questions as seen in the scene where Alan asks Michael about what he sells and mocks him about the flush mechanisms of toilets that he sells. When Nancy says she is an investment broker and Penelope 's obvious lack of a career is made known Michael interjects and says she is a writer. The women 's careers are seen as subordinate to the men as they aren 't discussed further and when they are it is in a mocking sense or to prove a point. The film exposes the hierarchy of careers as well as how one is perceived and treated; this is shown through the behavior of each of the characters towards one another and their respective