Tired of the same old, same old? Sifting through Netflix is the move. That’s what I did, anyway, and found something bizarre that I knew immediately would stick with me forever: “The Land of Cards.” After jumping into this thrill ride and holding on for dear life, I realized it’s not just a movie, but a surreal fever dream that completely rewired my brain.
This 2012 Indian (Bengali) film is an explosion of punk rock energy and surrealist art. The story itself is actually an adaptation of a classic play: A bored prince flees his kingdom and finds himself shipwrecked on a colorless island. It’s a fascist state where all the inhabitants are living playing cards, forced to obey strict rules. He and his friend end up as part of a revolution that changes everything on the island.
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What is ‘The Land of Cards’ about?
Rustin (Baron Geisler) is the troubled lead singer of a rock band struggling with addiction. He travels to the Netherlands to reconnect with his past, including a family he’s estranged from. He’s determined to finally meet his young daughter, Yumi (Althea Ruedas), who he had to make the difficult decision to leave behind years ago.
A bored prince (Soumyak Kanti De Biswas) is growing tired of palace life. He convinces his merchant friend (Anubrata Basu) to join him on an adventure to escape his royal duties and find some meaning in his life. He flees his kingdom by ship with his friend, but a violent storm ends up stranding the pair on a strange, colorless island. It also happens to be a fascist state where all the inhabitants are living playing cards, forced to follow strict rules, with no individual thoughts allowed.
They have no choice but to adapt if they want to survive. But soon enough, their punk rock attitude ends up rubbing off on the card people. This kicks off a surreal, psychedelic revolution that threatens what the authoritarians of the state have “built” through terror.
Why you should stream ‘The Land of Cards’ on Netflix
There’s a lot of safe, algorithm-friendly content on Netflix. “The Land of Cards” is anything but that. It’s not an “easy” film to watch, and certainly isn’t for everyone.
(Image credit: Netflix)
The fact that much of it takes place in an oppressive, black-and-white world means some viewers will be turned off immediately. And you also get a variety of genuinely bizarre musical numbers and bursts of surreal imagery that make the fascist parts of the story feel even weirder. More demerits against it for some, but points that Netflix explorers looking for unique experiences will love.
And while it might look like a straightforward “weird” movie, “The Land of Cards” is smarter than that. It’s a full-blown political allegory that isn’t afraid to question conformity, social structures, and the power of art. These are heavy topics, especially in light of our current political environment, but they’re all explored in a vivid, fun way that it’s quite cathartic.
If you’re tired of the same old thrillers, “The Land of Cards” will jolt you out of your rut. Just make sure to go in with an open mind.
Stream “The Land of Cards” on Netflix
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