‘One Battle After Another’ Shines as an Example of Political Commentary

By John Hiett

“One Battle After Another” is a comedic political thriller that tackles and explores the various political and personal struggles that all Americans deal with. The film is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson who is best known for his movie, “There Will Be Blood,” and filmmaking style that involves character centric stories and intricate cinematography.

“One Battle After Another” starts its focus on a far-left revolutionary group called the French 75, who loudly and recklessly fight against the government by sabotaging various locations, such as power grids and banks. Colonel Lockjaw (Sean Penn) is a commanding officer involved in a white supremacist group. While being a right leaning commander, his job is to snuff out the group altogether and to lead an immigration detention center in California. 

Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Regina Hall) have a kid, Charlene, while working together under the French 75. Pat is a determined, clumsy individual who wants to fight for what’s right, but is completely unprepared to do so. 

Perfidia is an ambitious, rebellious person who is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve her vision for political change. They leave to focus on their family, but Perfidia becomes unsatisfied with her mundane life, choosing to leave Pat and Charlene to rejoin the revolution in hopes of making a difference.

16 years later after Perfidia left, the film follows Pat Calhoun, an ex-revolutionary from the French 75, as he travels across the country to rescue his daughter, Charlene (Chase Infiniti), who is kidnapped by Colonel Lockjaw. With the help of Sergio (Benicio del Toro), a karate teacher and leader of an immigration underground railroad, Pat clumsily steps back into the revolution not out of a need to make a political change but to simply save his daughter.

The three hour movie itself is jam packed with a plot that thoroughly explores both political views and actions in the war, but also leaves time for the comedic and emotional moments to breathe. It doesn’t lean to one side or the other and presents the characters with a level of complexity and nuance, achieving something very complicated in a film about politics.

All the characters are expertly fleshed out and are given room to dive into what motivates them and how that influences their actions. One of my favorite characters is Sergio, who is calm and collected as he tries to help his friend Pat and various immigrants get across the border.

The movie’s score truly elevates the film as it flawlessly puts you into the character’s shoes and their situations. An example that comes to mind is how the music carries the emotional desperation Pat felt when he was trying to obtain information from various revolutionaries about where his daughter is being held. During those moments of tension, the sound of a continuously plucked violin is heard, raising the urgency, tension and stress of the scene.

Amidst the film’s tense political and comedic chaos, there is a very poignant theme: it’s important to appreciate the freedom people have and to strive to help the people you love. That’s how justice, freedom and equality are achieved; not through aggression or radical change, but through a consistent display of peaceful compassion towards others.

Despite both the left and right political groups being at their aggressive extremes, Sergio and Pat convey the idea that there’s a right time and a place to stand up for their beliefs as they peacefully achieve more than either side could ever do. 

A quote I want to leave you with is one that best summarizes the movie from Sergio as he talks to Pat: “You know what freedom is? No fear.”

“One Battle After Another” is currently available to watch in theaters.

John Hiett is a senior biology major. He is passionate about any and all indie video games and loves getting coffee since starting college.

Images courtesy of Ghoulardi Film Company.