The main character (the synopsis on the website calls him Charlie, but nowhere in the film do we find out his name) of "The Black Hole" is presented with an amazing gift, one it seems tailor-made for the criminally minded, which he just so happens to be. The copy machine at work seems to be malfunctioning, spitting out the same page, blank but for a large black dot on it. He puts his cup of water on the paper with the black dot and it falls through it. He tries sticking his hand in, and it goes through as well. He figures out that the black dot is more of a black hole, one that dematerializes whatever is directly under it.
In quick order, Charlie goes from using the dot to steal a candy bar out of the snack machine to taping it to the side of a safe to steal the money out of it. The only problem is that Charlie gets a little too greedy and climbs all the way inside the safe, after which, the paper with the black dot, peels off of the front of the safe, leaving Charlie trapped inside.
It's clearly a morality play. Don't be greedy, don't take more than you need, etc. But I can't help wondering what else this black dot would be good for. Maybe you can help me. What "good" could someone readily do with something like that. Like I said before, it is a criminal's wildest dream-come-true. It makes me think of the saying, "locks are for keeping out the honest people." What if you had something that rendered all locks pointless? How strong would the temptation be to use it?
Aargghh!! I'm claustrophobic, so that was a total nightmare! When he started going all the way in the safe, I actually said "Nooooo!" out loud.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of those experiments someone does from time to time when they leave a wallet full of cash somewhere where people will find it and then see how they handle it. The accounts I've read say that the majority of time, people return the wallet without stealing anything from it. It's an interesting dilemma...if you suddenly had a way of taking cash (ostensibly without being caught), would you do it?
Frankly, I believe in karma - the old "what goes around comes around" theory of life, so I wouldn't be tempted. It's an interesting short, though - certainly thought-provoking.
Tia, thanks for watching and commenting. I think I agree with you, especially in Charlie's case. He got what was coming to him.
ReplyDeleteHey Steve - I posted this film the week we watched Sniffer/Natives/Anti-Social Network for it's detached feel in relation to the other three. I think it's cool that this film is shown in film school as the perfect short film. I've been trying to imagine what good could be done with the portal....maybe medical stuff? Third World surgeries...c-sections...baclofen pump placements. It would be useful in countries of war for hiding refugees or those being sought. It's the ultimate in home security. I'd rather have one of these and a secret room than a gun. BUT, like you say, its the ultimate for the criminal/evil mind. There's no way to keep in the hands for only good.
ReplyDeleteI watched this film too, but chose different ones to post on. Following up on your comments, connected with Sarah's, it would look like something such as this whole has the potential for great good, or horrific bad. Itself, the hole is amoral. It just is. The possessor is the key here. How do we use our talents, etc.?
ReplyDeleteOf course, the humor of the ending was right up my alley.
Great review, Gavin. I think I will be staying away from copy machines.
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