12 Monkeys, directed by Terry Gilliam, depicts a story about time-travel. Cole, the lead actor, volunteers to go back in time to help prevent the spread of a virus. Throughout his journey, viewers are able to grasp the idea of ​​surveillance, mental illness, and the use of technology and how this impacts how audience members perceive the film as a whole and how it impacts society today. If viewers are able to understand the way surveillance, mental illness, and technology are used in 12 Monkeys, people will be able to understand how these issues are repetitive in terms of today's society. Additionally, readers will gain an in-depth understanding of how the director illustrated these ideas in the film (e.g. repetition of scenes, language used, etc.). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay At the beginning of the film, Cole is forced to check himself into a mental institution. Cole, who is not mentally ill, is confused and tries to make the workers understand that he is not actually "crazy". However, it is ignored and passed on to other people who are truly mentally ill. In this scene, he meets Jeffrey Goines, the leader of the 12 Monkeys, who viewers later learn about. Jeffrey begins to give Cole a whirl and says some of the following: Let's play games that vegetate you... phone call? that is, communication with the outside world... I'm not saying you're mentally ill, that's why maybe you're crazy but that's not why you're here, you're here because of the system” (12 Monkeys) This scene illustrates an important theme for the entire film. From this scene emerges the idea of ​​surveillance and mental illness. Jeffery seems to be aware of this “institution” (mental institution) and what it does to people and accepts it. People admitted to the mental institution are brainwashed into believing that they pose a threat to the outside world and that they belong where they belong. The people in these institutions do not have the ability to leave these places. More importantly, the director created a scene that shows how the government (and even people in power) have authority over the lives of others. Furthermore, when Jeffery mentions the idea of ​​being part of a “system”, and essentially with no way out, many people would be able to agree on how the “system” is relevant to today's world. Of course, the “system” can be interpreted in any way, such as the “prison system”, the “education system” and many others. The idea of ​​“system” may make some people think of government control (as mentioned above). It was no coincidence that Terry included these types of ideas about the fact that human beings will always be classified into some sort of “system”. For the sake of the film, the “system” Jeffery was referring to was about the institution. This, however, does not change the way people think about the word “system” because, as in the film, there is no way out of it. Terry Gilliam managed to create a successful storyline through the use of his dialect. He used words like “system” which is essentially a word open to discussion. Furthermore, the setting of the scene makes the audience understand how people locked up in these mental institutions have no way out. They become part of the system. Likewise, people can agree that people are all part of a type of system from which there is no escape. This idea centralizes the entire film.