The Girl from Monday 2005
Directed by
Hal Hartley
Made by
Netflix
Plot Summary
In a distant future United States, an extraterrestrial being named Abracos arrives on Earth and adopts a human guise. The story unfolds through the eyes of Jack Bell (Bill Sage), an advertising executive, who offers a voiceover detailing how his revolutionary ideas helped elevate the “triple M” corporation to power, consequently turning people into mere consumers and pawns of corporate interests.
The narrative flashes forward to moments where Jack visits a “gun boutique” to purchase a pistol, and later, he grapples with despair in his car, contemplating suicide. His innovative concept for triple M revolves around the notion that sexually active individuals are the most engaged consumers, thus suggesting that every sexual encounter should be recorded as an economic transaction. This unprecedented idea elevates their desirability rating—which, in turn, impacts their credit score. Consequently, insurance policies covering a person’s sexual desirability become available, linking personal worth directly to consumerism.
In a bid to establish an alibi for a counter-revolutionary maneuver, Jack attempts to connect with his co-worker Cecile (Sabrina Lloyd). However, he falters, leading to an investigation by the insurance company into her unchanged premium, while Jack’s rises due to his claim of impotence following the tragic drowning of his wife. As the counter-revolutionaries prepare for a strike on the triple M headquarters, their plans unravel, resulting in a police manhunt when news breaks of two casualties.
By chance, Cecile crosses paths with William, a young leader of the counter-revolution, who leads her to a realm where intimacy is celebrated for its own sake, devoid of economic implications. However, Cecile is swiftly arrested for engaging in non-economic sex, which has been outlawed under triple M, and receives a bizarre punishment of “two years hard labor… teaching high school.” Her classes, featuring virtual reality helmets, involve students who are armed and medicated with anti-anxiety drugs. In a twist of fate, it turns out that William is one of her students. As she secretly reads Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, a book smuggled in by William, she finds inspiration to aid the counter-revolution.
In a parallel story arc, Jack finds solace at the beach where his wife drowned. However, in a moment of despair, he overdoses on pills and vodka, losing consciousness before attempting to end his life. William discovers him, mistakenly assuming he is dead, and takes Jack’s pistol to further his counter-revolution. When Jack finally awakens, he encounters a girl from the planet Monday, who has emerged from the water. As they forge a bond, he teaches her how to navigate human society. This girl, who refers to herself as “Nobody,” has come to retrieve an earlier “immigrant” from her home planet.
Their journey together brims with coincidences and adventures, including a chaotic threesome involving Jack, Cecile, and Nobody, alongside a police raid on a dress boutique. In a desperate act, Nobody resorts to prostitution to secure Cecile’s release from prison. Ultimately, she believes her mission has failed and decides to return home. The stunning revelation unfolds that Jack is also an “immigrant” from the same planet, having previously attempted and failed to return. They walk together to the ocean, where she steps into the water, disappearing from view. Jack, left alone, expresses uncertainty about her fate, reflecting the poignant complexities of existence in a bureaucratic world.
Timeline
Arrival of Abracos
In a distant future United States, an extraterrestrial being named Abracos arrives on Earth. Taking on a human form, Abracos begins to interact with the human world, setting the stage for a narrative that intertwines alien and human experiences.
Jack's Voiced Reflections
Jack Bell, an advertising executive, shares his insights through a voiceover. He discusses how his innovative advertising strategies bolstered the 'triple M' corporation to unprecedented power, turning the populace into mere consumers driven by corporate interests.
Purchase at the Gun Boutique
Seeking a solution for his growing despair, Jack visits a gun boutique to purchase a pistol. This moment highlights his deepening struggles as he grapples with the oppressive nature of a consumer-driven society.
Contemplation of Suicide
In a moment of crisis, Jack contemplates ending his life while sitting in his car. The overwhelming pressure from his personal and professional life drives him to despair, painting a vivid picture of his emotional turmoil.
Innovative Consumerism Through Sex
Jack proposes a controversial concept that equates sexual encounters with economic transactions, arguing that sexually active individuals are the most engaged consumers. This startling idea leads to innovations in insurance, linking personal worth directly to sexual desirability.
Failed Connection with Cecile
In an attempt to establish an alibi for a counter-revolutionary act, Jack reaches out to his co-worker Cecile. His failure to connect prompts an investigation into Cecile's unchanged insurance premium, contrasting with Jack's own rising rates.
Counter-Revolutionary Plans Unravel
The counter-revolutionaries plan a strike on the triple M headquarters, but their operation quickly unravels. The revelation of two casualties leads to a police manhunt, further escalating the tension between corporate powers and rebellious forces.
Cecile's Arrest
Cecile meets William, a young leader of the counter-revolution, who introduces her to a world where intimacy exists free from commercial constraints. However, she is soon arrested for engaging in non-economic sex, a practice outlawed by triple M.
Cecile's Punishment
As a punishment for her actions, Cecile is sentenced to two years of hard labor teaching high school. Her classes are bizarrely unconventional, involving students who are armed and medicated, illustrating the dystopian society they inhabit.
Jack's Despair at the Beach
Jack retreats to the beach where his wife drowned, seeking solace in his memories. In a moment fueled by despair, he overdoses on pills and vodka, slipping into unconsciousness as he contemplates his life.
William's Mistaken Assumption
William discovers Jack unconscious and mistakenly believes he is dead. Seizing the opportunity, he takes Jack's pistol to aid the counter-revolution, unintentionally deepening the intertwining of their fates.
Meeting 'Nobody'
When Jack awakens, he meets a girl from the planet Monday, who refers to herself as 'Nobody.' They begin to form a bond as she seeks to retrieve a previous immigrant, revealing layers of interstellar connections and alien motives.
Adventures and Coincidences
Jack and Nobody embark on a series of adventures together, including a chaotic threesome and a police raid. These events highlight the dystopian absurdity of their world while exploring themes of intimacy and rebellion.
Nobody's Sacrifice for Cecile
In a desperate attempt to secure Cecile's release from prison, Nobody resorts to prostitution. This act underscores the lengths individuals will go to in a society that commodifies every aspect of human life.
Jack's Uncertain Fate
Ultimately, Nobody feels her mission has failed and decides to return home, leaving Jack alone. As she walks into the ocean, disappearing from view, Jack is left reflecting on the complexities of their existence in a bureaucratic world.
Characters
Jack Bell
Jack is an advertising executive deeply entrenched in a consumer-driven society. He grapples with his moral dilemmas as he realizes the impact of his ideas on the lives of others. His journey is marked by profound despair, particularly following the loss of his wife, leading him to confront the emptiness of his existence within a corporate machine.
Cecile
Cecile is a co-worker of Jack who seeks meaningful connections in a world that has outlawed intimacy without economic implications. Her character evolves from a corporate pawn to a pivotal figure in the counter-revolution, highlighting her resilience and desire for freedom. Despite her circumstances, she embodies hope and the struggle for authenticity in a superficial society.
Nobody
Nobody is an extraterrestrial being who represents innocence and the quest for understanding in a complicated human world. Her presence leads Jack on a path of self-discovery and emotional connection, bridging the gap between their disparate realities. Through her adventures, she challenges societal norms and embodies the yearning for deeper human experiences.
Setting
Time period
Distant Future
The film takes place in a distant future characterized by a hyper-commercialized society where personal relationships are commodified. This time is marked by bleakness and despair, reflecting the consequences of extreme capitalism on human connections and individual worth.
Location
United States, Beach, Gun Boutique
The movie is set in a dystopian future version of the United States where corporate interests overshadow individual freedom. A significant location is a beach, which serves as a poignant reminder of loss and despair, especially for Jack, where his wife drowned. The gun boutique stands as a symbol of the society's militaristic tendencies and the emotional desolation of its characters.
Themes
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Isolation
Isolation is a prevailing theme in the film, embodied through Jack’s emotional struggles and the oppressive societal structure. As characters navigate a world that prioritizes economic value over genuine connection, feelings of loneliness and despair become all-consuming, leading to choices that reflect their isolation. The relationship between Jack and “Nobody” highlights the fleeting moments of connection amidst widespread disengagement.
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Consumerism
Consumerism is intricately woven into the narrative, showcasing how personal value is assessed through economic activity. Jack's innovative yet troubling proposition to link sexual encounters to consumer engagement exemplifies the depths of this theme. The characters' lives are dictated by corporate interests, underscoring the dehumanizing aspects of a society obsessed with commodification.
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Otherness
The theme of otherness is explored through the character of ‘Nobody,’ an extraterrestrial being seeking to understand human existence. Her journey illustrates the contrasts between her home society and Earth, prompting questions about identity and belonging. This theme resonates with Jack’s own feelings of alienation, both from his past and the corporate world around him.
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