Black Comedy War Film On Paramount+ Cuts Through The Red Tape
War movies have been popular with general audiences since the days of the first-known moving pictures, from propaganda footage used as a recruitment tool to retellings of historical battles used to entertain and educate the masses. Most of these films include big combat set-pieces, lots of blood and gore, and a wide array of intense moments shared between soldiers of opposing armies. One 2015 film however, A Perfect Day, shows another side of war, which is bogged down with a lot more interpersonal customer service and bureaucratic red tape than you might think.
The Side Of War You Rarely See In Films
A Perfect Day centers on a team of humanitarian aid officers dispatched to help the civilian population of Bosnia during an armed conflict that threatens to send the entire Balkan region to war. Along the way, the aid workers face a series of complex problems due to the stringently-defined terms of what they can and cannot interfere with, per the codes of international law. This sees the team trying to carefully communicate with the locals, struggling to navigate road closures patrolled by hair-triggered soldiers, and failing to find even the most basic of supplies in the war-torn region.
All’s Well That Ends Well
One major plot line of the film sees the main trio of aid workers attempting to restore the clean drinking water of one small village. While investigating the problem with their wellspring, the team come to learn that a heavy-set man has died and been thrown into the well, contaminating the entire tap. Throughout the narrative of A Perfect Day, the team must navigate the complex laws of the United Nations, which specifically forbids them from handling dead bodies under any circumstance, while searching for rope to fish the body out of the well.
Black Comedy With A Purpose
A Perfect Day manages to expertly weave elements of black humor throughout the film, which makes this war comedy equal parts adventurous, thrilling, and even a bit romantic at times. The film was written and directed by Spanish filmmaker Fernando León de Aranoa, who specializes in films about the forgotten side of political relations, such as humanitarian workers. Benicio Del Toro, Tim Robbins, and Mélanie Thierry lead the cast as the trio of aid workers, while Olga Kurylenko, Eldar Residovic, and Fedja Stukan round out the ensemble.
A Fascinating Take On Modern Warfare
After first premiering to a 10 minute standing ovation at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, A Perfect Day received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Some took issue with the movie’s writing and overall pace, while others lauded the film for its fresh and inventive new take on the war genre and its compelling yet contained story. Today, A Perfect Day touts a 71 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Streaming A Perfect Day On Paramount+
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Personally, I absolutely love this film, even if I can recognize that it’s definitely not for everybody. Some audiences may scoff at A Perfect Day by claiming the film is a 90 minute side-quest dedicated to locating a piece of rope, though the real journey lies in Tim Robbins’ infectious charisma, the relatable frustration of dealing with red tape, and the overall tone and vibe curated by the film’s on-location shots. If you’re interested in checking this film out today, be sure to stream A Perfect Day on Paramount+.
