Pandaemonium

Are the concerns expressed in the film Pandaemonium still relevant in the 21st century?

One of the most interesting things that I’ve noted, watching even only a small section of the film Pandaemonium, is its universality. Admittedly, a film made nearly two decades ago, based upon events that themselves occurred two centuries ago, isn’t going to fit like a glove to the concerns of 2020. Yet, whilst watching Julien Temple’s 2001 film, the core themes are what translate directly to the 21^st Century and are what give this film it’s sense of universality, that in turn makes it such an appealing story.

The main theme that stood out to me, was that of rebellion, manifesting itself in the political protests that protagonist Samuel Taylor Coleridge is deeply invested in. Protesting the slave trade that was active and flourishing in early 19^th Century England, Coleridge continually finds himself at odds with the English Government, and its many allies and counterparts. Similarly, the 21^st Century, has seen the rise of the Climate Change Movement, and has engulfed the media, and thus the political landscape. In much the same way as Coleridge, leaders of this movement, namely Greta Thunberg, amongst others, constantly find themselves opposed by leaders of nations, who themselves contribute heavily to the issue of climate change. In this way, the story of Pandaemonium becomes a universal narrative of the power struggle between passionate individuals leading movements in pursuit of justice and equity, and the various Government powers, wishing to dismantle them.  

– Cameron Cole