LaaF…Culture!

by Dave K. and Phil O. 

I saw “Logan”, the final film of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, with a couple of friends this weekend.  It was pretty violent (of course), emotional (surprise), and brilliant if you think about it (here’s my 3 sentence review).  There is one of the theories in our discussions about it (cuz that’s what makes a movie fun to watch!) that is of particular interest considering our current times.  A friend that I watched it with, Felipe Orozco (my lightsaber chopstick wielding partner in nerdom film analysis and resident co-drafter of a theology of the oppressed), has posited that the film “Logan” is social commentary on the plight of the undocumented immigrant (in fact, Patrick Stewart, aka Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, essentially made the same connection).  

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD

Here are some connections between the film and the undocumented immigrant:

1. Mexican women were the surrogate mothers for the mutant children*

The undocumented immigrant has most often been portrayed as of Mexican origin, hence all the talk of “a wall” to secure our southern border.  The surrogate role is also important because the U.S. does not have clean hands as it was involved in some of the very issues that gave rise for the need for Mexicans to emigrate.    

2. The identity of mutant minority was forced on the children, a mutant minority whose rights are limited and are already being eradicated.*

Undocumented immigrant children did not get to decide whether or not they wanted to be brought into another country.   What little protections the children do have, like DACA recipients*, are at risk because of the current administration’s rhetoric and policies.  Even adult undocumented immigrants are vulnerable because their very status means they do not have the protection of the law of the country as do citizens of the country.

3. The mutant children are trying to find sanctuary [across a northern border] from being rounded up by a government agency*

Different U.S. cities have claimed to be sanctuary cities.  But that hasn’t stopped Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are raiding and rounding up undocumented immigrants with little to no due process, even those with no criminal record.  

4. A black family (another minority) takes in Logan, Charles, and Laura and are put at risk because of it.*  

To extend kindness to someone who is oppressed is a life giving reminder to them of their humanity.  However, defending and protecting undocumented immigrants put yourself at risk.*  Whether consciously, as an ally, or unconsciously, as someone simply being hospitable to guests, to care for the vulnerable makes you vulnerable to the forces that oppose them.  

5. Finally, the point of identifying with the undocumented immigrant can be found within the very structure of the story itself (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT).

The story itself can be seen as an “evolution” of Logan’s journey (and possibly ours) of rejecting the immigrant to accepting the immigrant.  The film begins with Logan waking up from a drunken stupor to find ethnically Mexican “cholos” trying to steal his car hub caps (this fits in with the general stereotype of immigrants as criminals).  A Mexican woman has smuggled a child across the border of Mexico into the U.S. and insists that Logan take her, to which he initially refuses vehemently.  It is revealed that this undocumented immigrant child, raised in Mexico, is in fact Logan’s daughter by blood.   The film captures his struggle to accept this child as well as the goal to reach another northern border (of Canada) for safety and freedom from their oppressors.  The film ends for Logan when Laura finally calls him “Daddy” and with his dying words Logan states “So this is what it feels like” indicating the loving bond that has finally been forged with this undocumented immigrant, who is “very much like [him]”.  Then at the very end of the film Laura, turns the cross that marks Logan’s grave on its side to reveal an “X”.   This is of course a reference to the “X-Men” but could also be emphasizing the chiastic structure of the story.  Here’s a broad breakdown of this literary technique in the story that creates a mirroring effect:

A1 – Logan’s waking at the beginning of his story

B1 – Logan rejects an immigrant’s plea (Gabriela) to save himself   

C1 – Logan reluctantly takes the immigrant child out of Mexico

X – Logan and company stays the night at the Munson home

C2 – Logan reluctantly takes the immigrant child to “Eden”

B2 – Logan defends an immigrant (Laura) to sacrifice his life

A2 – Logan’s dying at the end of his story

In any chiastic structure the meaning is found in the center of the events.  That center, arguably, (in a rare moment of peace in the home of family that receives them as guests) are the final words that Logan hears from Charles’ (aka Professor X) before Xavier is attacked: “This is what life looks like: people love each other. You should take a moment…”  Charles presses Logan a final time to accept a path of love.  This becomes the turning point in the story in which Logan must internalize this love without the help of his dear old friend who had become like a father to him.  
By the end of the story he has learned to love the undocumented immigrant as his own daughter, as himself.  In his death, he is born again to experience the intimate love of family.  Maybe in this he has found a glimpse of the real promised land they have all been seeking…the “Eden” of the King.      

*connections that Phil pointed out

Tags: bible, comics, film, films inspired by comics, logan, logan movie, movies, undocumented immigrants, Wolverine, x-23, x-men