Captain Fantastic 2016

Ben Cash, together with his wife Leslie and their six children, leads a life immersed in the wilderness of Washington. Having once been vibrant anarchist activists, their disillusionment with capitalism and the American way of life has propelled them to impart survivalist skills, along with leftist politics and philosophy, to their children. They strive to cultivate critical thinking, self-reliance, and physical fitness, all while guiding them without the dependence on technology. Instead of celebrating traditional holidays, they observe unique occasions like “Noam Chomsky Day,” embracing the harmony of coexisting with nature.

Tragically, Leslie faces hospitalization due to bipolar disorder, a battle that ultimately concludes with her taking her own life. Following her death, Ben discovers that Leslie’s father, Jack, intends to conduct a conventional funeral, contradicting her wish for cremation. A tense phone call ensues, culminating in Jack threatening to have Ben arrested if he shows up. Initially, he decides to keep himself and the children away from the funeral, but a change of heart prompts him to embark on a road trip, revealing to the children the life that lies outside their secluded existence.

Their journey first takes them to the home of Ben’s sister, Harper, and her husband, where they are met with attempts to persuade Ben that the children require formal schooling. Ben stands firm on his belief that his children are more adequately educated than Harper’s kids. However, as the funeral unfolds, Ben and his children arrive only to follow through with Leslie’s will—a document that shockingly requests her ashes be cremated and flushed down the toilet. Jack’s disapproval leads to Ben being forcibly ejected.

As the story unfolds, doubt creeps into the minds of Ben’s children regarding their father’s methods and decisions. Rellian accuses Ben of neglecting Leslie’s mental health, while Bodevan confronts his father for not preparing them for the realities of worldly life. Displaying acceptance letters from prestigious Ivy League schools—gestures of Leslie’s nurturing support—Bodevan voices a desire for a different future. Meanwhile, Rellian contemplates living with their grandparents, who seek custody of the children. When Vespyr ventures to rescue Rellian from what she perceives as captivity, her reckless attempt results in a dangerously close fall.

Amidst feelings of shock and guilt, Ben makes the heart-wrenching decision to allow Jack to take custody of the children. However, that bond proves fleeting; the children, despite warm interactions with their grandparents, choose to reunite with their father. In a moment of solidarity, they fulfill Leslie’s request—exhuming her remains, constructing a ceremonial pyre, and ultimately flushing her ashes down the toilet at an airport.

As the narrative develops, Bodevan finds his own path, opting to travel through Namibia, while the rest of the family settles on a farm. The film closes with a poignant scene: the family gathered around the kitchen table, waiting for the school bus, hinting at the new chapters and challenges that lie ahead.