What counts as normal? Where do you define the line of sacrifice and demand? Captain Fantastic looks at a family set apart from others in every way possible; they live alone and isolated in the woods, they’re made to do military drills to practice defence and attacks, climb sheer cliff faces, hunt for their meat and present philosophical, mathematical and literature presentations – with debate being a large part of this family. They might be a marvel, fantastic even in what they can do, but because their father Ben (Viggo Mortensen) – the Captain of the family – has distanced them from the “devil” of capitalist society, have they missed out on an area of life that will forever isolate them from others?
This idea of loneliness, of being alone, is explored with the loss of Ben’s wife, her death causing the family to re-examine their situation and to work on defining a new set of parameters as they travel across country for her funeral. As they step further away from the only home they’ve ever known, their self-assurance and knowledge – although like an encyclopaedia – is shown to be lacking. Both in the common sense of the outside world and in missing pop-culture references, which makes people think they’re a joke. And opening the children’s eyes to the limitations of their “free” life, when seen in the perspective of the modern world.
Courtesy of Bleecker Street and Obscured Pictures
Director and writer Matt Ross has used his own experiences with parenting, and his childhood memories of living off-grid as the inspiration for Captain Fantastic. Showing that neither side is right on how to raise a child, just as neither is wrong; providing both the pluses and minuses. He also creates a three-dimensional dad who is both applauded for raising such smart independent children, whilst also being criticised for his constant setting of challenges; that have in a way removed the traditional viewpoint of what constitutes a childhood. As the children begin to question their life – when seen within the wider world – Ben, aka Captain Fantastic, is forced to challenge his own well-established viewpoints. Has he made the right choice for his family?
One of the most enlightening and slightly comedic aspects of the childrens’ warped perspective and isolation, is when the oldest son (who’s eighteen) proposes to a girl he’s only just met because they kissed. As the children begin to see how different their lives are from others, they start to question their taught assumptions and with it their father. In particular one of the youngest children seeks to have the normalcy he’s been taught to despise, and from this Ben is made to look at the life he’s presented to his children.
As the family edge closer to saying goodbye to their mum, you’re left to wonder are they also saying goodbye to their old world? The possibility frightening Ben who’s worked so hard to mould them into perfection, but maybe he needs to question is he doing the right thing? The kids having taken everything they do from his lead, and so in teaching them not to be indoctrinated, has he replaced one indoctrination with another – his own?
Courtesy of Bleecker Street and Obscured Pictures
Journeying further away from the wild beauty of their home, the audience is brought the fresh perspective of our manufactured world. Shown in part by the contrast of nature to the manicured lawns of a golf course – a commentary perhaps on America’s changing landscape? Whilst rekindling an appreciation of nature, and having the viewer understand the family’s love of its untamed wilderness.
Captain Fantastic is an interesting exploration of defining family relationships, morality and the lines we have as society; ones that we instantly expect others to uphold. For example the gasps that issue when the father tells the youngest child what rape is, before explaining the finer intricacies of sexual intercourse.
In trying to give his children more freedom than most in America, especially in what they learn and in society’s demands and expectations, has Ben in fact restricted them? They’re not able to integrate easily. And look at people warily as though they’re oppressed, while the reverse is seen by those in the community and their relatives. Throughout the film your opinion on Ben’s methods of raising a family swings back and forth between whether it’s good or bad, the film purposefully doing so and leaving you to question the typical family upbringing of today. Along with the environment most children are raised in; education, religion, media – violent games. However, Ben’s children do act out tactics of stabbing one another and joyfully run with knives. So who knows?
Director & Writer: Matt Ross
Other notable works:
- Gaslit 2022
Courtesy of Bleecker Street and Obscured Pictures
