City of Ember is a classic film released in 2008. On IMDb it has a rating of 6.5. Rotten Tomatoes also does not give great feedback on this movie. But still, there are a few reasons for me to believe that you should watch this movie.

About the Movie:

City of Ember is a must-see movie for those who haven’t yet experienced this thrilling adventure. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the only way for humanity to survive was to live in an underground city. This city was designed to sustain itself for a mere 200 years, but the people continued to live there for much longer than anticipated. As a result, the city can no longer support its inhabitants, and the once-thriving civilization is now on the brink of collapse. The movie’s imaginative and thought-provoking depiction of a dystopian future raises important questions about the consequences of our actions and reminds us of the fragility of our world. It’s a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a captivating story that challenges us to think about our own place in the world.

Stockpiling/hoarding during pandemic and catastrophes:

In these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become apparent that some individuals are hoarding essential supplies, leaving many others without access to basic necessities. City of Ember, a classic film released in 2008, echoes this sentiment in its depiction of a starving city where the corrupt mayor hoards rare food for himself, leaving the rest of the community to suffer. This practical parallel to our current situation highlights the devastating effects of hoarding and the importance of sharing resources in times of crisis. The film’s portrayal of the dangers of greed and selfishness serves as a cautionary tale for our own times and reminds us of the importance of compassion and empathy towards others, especially in times of need.

Lost information due to time:

The main protagonists of the movie are too young to be believed. The young generation has so many doubts and questions. They are curious to understand why things are the way they are. Is this really the best way to continue? This may have been a good path in past, but is the same path relevant even today? Are we on the wrong path if we put current circumstances in context?

There will always be a generation gap and the new generation may be perceived upon as rebellious.

And, there will be some knowledge or reasoning to do a few things in the past. And that has become the default convention and the only way. No one remembers why did we do something in a particular way exactly. It just has been the only known way. We know, how, but no one remembers why. But, even if we don’t remember why, we should not stop people from asking why. If we stop people from asking why, the answer is lost in a few generations and that is an even worse thing to be in. Therefore, asking “why” should be encouraged, as it is a sign of healthy curiosity rather than rebellion.

External intervention:

This was the most touching aspect for me. The city of ember was built by builders. Nobody living in that city had ever seen a builder. The city had functioned perfectly well for more than 200 years. There is a strong reason for the people of the city to have deep faith in the builders. The city had thrived for more than 200 years, only and only because of the builders. For many people in the city, the builders were like God.

But in the present time in the movie, there were all the bells and whistles that the city is on the brink of collapse. The city had survived for more than 200 years without any major problems so far. This is enough to have faith in the builders. But, was it really necessary to wait for some miracle to happen? Was it really necessary to not do anything? Was it necessary to wait for the builders to come and fix things? Was it true that the builders had abandoned the people of the city?

Your life, vs City of Ember:

I would like that you, the Reader, do some introspection with your life, and things and people around you. Do you thank our builders they have helped us thrive for so long, and are thankful to them for so many good things in our life? But if there is something broken, should we wait for our builders to come and fix things, or should we try to take things into our hands?

What do you think?