Imagine you wake up one morning, and spontaneously book a weekend getaway with your family, in a town far away from the city. You book a gorgeous Airbnb home, with an outdoor pool, acres of greenery to connect with nature, and a fully stocked house.
You get there, unpack, start having a good relaxing time…
Then, something odd happens.
You lose all internet connectivity, there’s no electricity, no access to the news, and the owners of the Airbnb want their home back in the middle of the night, because there’s a power outage.
Leave the World Behind is an apocalyptic psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la Herrold and Kevin Bacon, based on the 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam.
The film is a slow burn that gradually builds tension and suspense, showing the chaotic and mysterious occurrences, such as the herd of deer, flamingos and even Friends. But what did all those elements symbolise?
Let’s find out!
< Spoilers Ahead >
Blue
You must’ve noticed the striking blue walls in Amanda and Clay’s bedroom in the opening scene. Its jarringly bright.
But did you also notice the use of the colour throughout the film – their car, their clothes, the towels, the beach umbrellas, the tablet, the light from the TV and the pool.
The colour blue is often associated with feelings of calmness, serenity, peace, stability and evoke a sense of tranquillity. This is one of the reasons why most corporate logos and branding is coloured blue – it’s dependable (example, Facebook)
And the use of blue in the film symbolised exactly that – the safe and stable nature of the world. Most of Julia Roberts, or Amanda’s clothes are shades of blue, signifying her pragmatic nature and approach to the situation. Similar can be observed in sequences where Mahershala Ali, or George is seen wearing blue – he is calm and collected, trying to sensibly solve the mystery.
Until it slowly started shifting and we see shades of red. And as we all know – red is seen as a sign of danger, caution and the unknown.
Deer
In some cultures, deer are seen as messengers from the spirit realm, guiding individuals. Perhaps, that’s why they kept showing up at the house and even surrounded Ruth (Herrold) and Amanda (Roberts) in the forest, to guide them to safety.
This also leads to some other characteristic of deer for being vigilant, resilient, adaptable, and aware of their surroundings to navigate through changes quickly – traits humans often struggle with in the face of adversity. That is why they panicked and screamed at the herd, instead of connecting to nature’s message to protect them.
In certain cultures, deer is also linked to fertility and the cycle of life. The shedding and regrowth of their antlers each year can symbolise renewal, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of life. Perhaps their recurrence was another sign of the world, as we know it, collapsing and a reset or birth of another is in the making.
Flamingos
Flamingos are usually known for their aesthetic appeal with their vibrant pink and coral-coloured feathers. They are typically associated with tourist attraction at exotic locations such as lush resorts or wildlife sanctuaries.
Like all animals, Flamingos too are adaptable to various environmental changes and thrive in diverse situations. Hence, symbolizing the changes in the world and the need to travel in flocks to survive – representing the importance of community, cooperation, and social connection.
Moments before they arrive, we see Clay (Hawke) and Ruth break the ice. They try to get to know each other outside of their current situation and build a connection. Simultaneously, we witness George and Amanda share a bond by being honest, sharing a drink, being vulnerable, and dancing.
At this moment, all the preconceived notions they had of one another shed away, and they learn to act as a unit to survive.
In some mystical traditions, Flamingos are also seen as symbols of psychic awareness and mystery – perfectly contributing to the mood of the film.
Friends
As someone who grew up on Friends and immensely loves the show, this was such a refreshing and sweet inclusion in the film. However, what was most interesting was that a young Gen Z of 13 years adored the show just as much and found comfort in the characters.
The emotional impact of Friends is well known around different parts of the world. It’s central theme of friendship and the strong bond among the main characters, supporting each other and surviving through thick and thin has universal appeal and resonates with people.
This is perhaps what it symbolises in the grand scheme of things in Leave the World Behind. However, for Rose (Farrah Machenzie), it symbolises escapism from the uncertain and unstable world to a perfect world that doesn’t really exist. There’s another aspect of dependence of technology (more on that later), the culture of binge watching and the addiction of instant gratification.
Rose’s departure from the home portrays her lack of concern for the well-being of her family, or herself. She’s fixated on escaping from reality and finding all means to watch her beloved show. When she finally gets her hands on the DVDs, instead of continuing from where she left off, she chooses to fast forward to the last episode to see the end.
Her behaviour is a classic example of seeking immediate rewards or pleasure to avoid discomfort without considering the potential long-term consequences … of leaving her family behind for a TV show.
Technology
Rose’s yearning to know how Friends end and not being able to access the internet to stream the show, highlights our dependency on technology and our addiction towards it.
And, this is emphasised throughout the film.
The family is shown driving off from the city to their getaway, each using a piece of technology – with Amanda being on the phone, Clay turning on the radio, Archie (Charlie Evans) using his headphone and Rose watching Friends on her tablet.
This is completely flipped when they are instantly disconnected from the world and any form of news or entertainment, when the internet and all tech is down / hacked.
Another example highlighting the risk of the addiction is when all roadways are blocked by a row of crashed Tesla cars, self-driving electric vehicles that have no control without human intervention. While self-driving cars are an exciting technological design for improving / aiding humans, complete reliance on it is dangerous.
Popcorn Rating – [5/5]
Leave the World Behind is not your usual apocalyptic thriller which reveals the doom and simply capture its characters’ survival. It’s a terrifying psychological experience that can potentially be real.
I’m sure there’s a whole lot more that I’ve missed.
Did you notice any other elements of symbolism in the film?
