This is part of a compensated campaign with Verizon FiOS SoCal.
Admittedly, I knew very little about the latest tween sci-fi/fantasy film adapted from Veronica Roth’s New York Times best-selling novel Divergent. And had I not screened the film in partnership with Verizon FiOS SoCal, I might have missed out on a gripping, engaging film. In the spirit of The Hunger Games comes a futuristic coming-of-age story about a young woman trying to find her “place” in a highly structured society divided into 5 personality-driven factions (Abnegation – selfless, Amity – kind, Candor – honest, Erudite – intelligent, and Dauntless – brave). Divergent stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Mekhi Phifer, Jai Courtney, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, and Kate Winslet and is now playing in theaters nationwide.
In war-torn, post-apocalyptic Chicago, order is maintained through a faction system, which reflects the personality strengths of each individual. During adolescence, the teens in this dystopian society undergo an aptitude test to help identify which faction they are best suited for. Ironically, in a society bent on conformity, they do not have to acquiesce to their identified faction and can opt for any one of the 5 factions during The Choosing Ceremony, albeit permanently. It’s the classic internal conflict every young adult feels as they transition from adolescence to adulthood…Who Should I Be vs. Who Do I Want To Be? For the film’s female protagonist Tris, finding herself is complicated by the revelation that she is divergent, which means she doesn’t “fit” into just one faction. A rarity amongst this society, those that are labeled divergent are a threat and Tris quickly learns that she must do everything she can to hide her multi-talented personality from those who would have her factionles…or worse…dead.
The draw of Dauntless goes deeper than the black attire and rebel-like personas exhibited by this group. As the protectors in this society, they’re known for their bravery. It is this fierce valor and desire to protect that compels Tris to choose this faction. With a rigorous training/vetting regimen, Tris must undergo a series of intense physical and mental challenges to prove she is Dauntless without revealing that she is at her core, Divergent.
Tris forges a relationship with the elusive and handsome Dauntless initiation instructor, Four (Theo James), who learns she is Divergent. Their romantic interlude, although predictable, works to keep audiences engaged within the film and connected to the characters. It is because of Four that Tris is able to continue training as he helps her identify and demonstrate her strengths while maintaining her secret.
Much of the film’s nearly 2 and a half hour run time is dedicated to the “training” Tris and her aspiring Dauntless members have to endure as a part of their “initiation.” Unfortunately, this renders the secondary but important overarching plot severely underdeveloped. When Tris discerns that the Erudite faction (led by Kate Winslet’s character Jeanine) plans to overthrow the Abnegation government in cohort with Dauntless, she is determined to stop the usurpation of power…even if that means revealing she is Divergent.
When I learned that Divergent was based on Roth’s book of the same name, I was a bit concerned that I would not be able to follow along with the story. Fortunately, Director Neil Burger sets the appropriate pacing for the film and provides enough context that audiences need not have ever picked up the book to understand the story. Divergent, although predictable, takes you out of the norms of societal reality and explores the concept of nonconformity and the challenges that characterize a futuristic dystopian society.
This pre-screening of Divergent is just one of the many uniquely Southern California experiences Verizon FiOS SoCal is offering locals. Simply submit a video showcasing how FiOS fuels your connection and you’ll be entered to win a technology, sporting or relaxing experience. You can also enter their regular local sweepstakes online Verizon.com/FiOSSoCal for tickets to events (this week it’s a basketball game or the circus) where the brand will tour.
Images: Lionsgate Entertainment
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