CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Issues and ideologies

In 'the bill of rights' scene, the social issue of homeschooling is raised. This examination of a homeschool family is so unique that it’s difficult to classify. Although the Cash family is very different from most real-life homeschoolers, many aspects of their curriculum are comparable to educational approaches adopted by homeschoolers across the country and it is clear that the children are intellectually far advanced for their age. In this scene, the kids are questioned on the bill of rights - when a relative questioning Ben’s parenting methods children mumble inane responses, but Ben’s 8-year old son can recite the text verbatim, and even give his own analysis of the document’s meaning and importance, we are, as the audience encouraged to side with Ben's view through the dialogue as it seems that he is more successful in his teachings. The camera angles in this scene also add to the audiences perspective - when the relatives children are questioned, they fill the screen showing their height and difference in age in comparison to Ben's 8 year son, who is portrayed as significantly smaller and younger as the camera looms slightly above his head, emphasising his impressive knowledge for someone so young. Another way we are encouraged to favour Ben is that through Harper's body language, which is aggressive, but Ben is talking calmly and reasonably, encouraging us to like him more

In the 'I'm a Maoist' scene, Bo, Ben's eldest son is unable to speak when he comes across a group of girls. closeup lingering shots emphasise his awkwardness - the kids are so isolated from modern civilisation that they know nothing about how to act in the 'real world.' So we consider the issue of Ben raising his children completely isolated - in this scene I think we are compelled to feel some sort of resent towards Ben as his son does; he's secluded him from other people and is therefore unable to even communicate with someone of the opposite sex, which is arguably unfair and entirely Ben's fault. He dismisses his sons distress, creating tension.

While seemingly positive on the outside, his inability to reconsider and even entertain an alternate viewpoint fuels conflict. Ben has a confrontation with his wealthy father-in-law, who wants his grandchildren to have a 'normal life'. The grandpa questions the way he is raising the children, causing the audience to do the same. Ben refuses to let his family eat in a restaurant because there’s no “real food” on the menu. (He refers to soda as “poison water.”) They decry consumerism, and yet they shoplift supplies from a grocery store, crafting an elaborate getaway plan and calling it “Mission: Free the Food.” They don’t believe in buying stuff, but they have no problem stealing it. This begins to make less and less sense. We also question the safety of the children as Ben lies about how one of his children broke his hand. This scene aligns us with Jack when Ben is called out about his lies, which slightly changes our feelings towards him. Ben looks smaller and less dominant and impressive; his response is defensive, he is persistent that he's right but can't justify his actions and tries to look for an escape as he knows he can't win the argument. Ben's left-wing views and unconventional ideologies have put his children in danger. Up until this point, the other family are seen as the villains however, Ben and the grandpa are both heroes and villains in the film – they make mistakes and they also try their best and mean well. This could create a balance between the two ideologies.

[Themes of: Religion; Buddhism and Hinduism and christianity, binary opposites of traditional vs conservative, communist vs liberal, leftist and rightist, nature vs living in the city, gender equality, parenting, anti-authority, critique of American society,]