The hit Broadway musical Wicked finally gets the Hollywood treatment, bringing its message about rejecting oppressive systems to a wider audience. The story tells of the magical land of Oz, a supposed paradise that is soon revealed to be filled with corruption and oppression. Green-skinned Elphaba, a social outcast with magical powers, finds she can relate to the plight of the animal citizens who are facing increasing suppression.
At boarding school, Elphaba and her unlikely friend Galinda make the choice to act against this injustice. They soon learn those they had admired – including the Wizard himself – not only already knew the truth but were the orchestrators of this oppression. The two young witches are faced with a choice: to “defy gravity” against these powerful rulers at the risk of their careers and lives, or to network and schmooze, using their popularity to try and change the structure from within.
Ultimately, Elphaba realizes she has nothing to lose exposing a system that has never worked for her. But Galinda urges her not to challenge the powers that be: “You can still be with the Wizard / What you worked and waited for / You can have everything you wanted”. Elphaba responds:
I know, but I don’t want it
No, I can’t want it anymore
Something has changed within me…
I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game…
I’d sooner buy defying gravity
The film is validating to everyone who’s been faced with the moral dilemma of upholding and participating in unjust systems. But Elphaba’s story is ultimately a cautionary tale of going at it alone. For her choice to stand against the Wizard, she is deemed “Wicked,” the scapegoat for all that is wrong in Oz. And as the opening number reminds us, “Goodness knows / She died alone”.
The vibrant world, spectacular performances, and memorable music make Wicked an enjoyable film with surprising depth. It shows us the false choices we are presented to change our future for better. It’s not just a matter of “defying gravity” as individuals or working within the system for reforms. What will lead us to true liberation is what Elphaba tragically never found: a community that stands together with her, in solidarity with all the oppressed. The film leaves us with the question of what would have happened if Galinda had chosen to stand with her friend, briefly imagining that outcome in song:
Unlimited
Together we’re unlimited…
If we work in tandem
There’s no fight we cannot win
