Rian Johnson
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

When the seventh episode of the ultimate commercial saga in cinema, "Star Wars," was screened, many turned up their noses and "too similar to the fourth" was the most heard remark as people exited a packed Genoese theater, with many nerds taking the opportunity to show up in the old uniforms of the fallen Galactic Empire's officers. The judgments on the new episode, however, were much more interesting "what a disappointment, they've ruined everything!", "they've taken away a myth, Disney and Mickey Mouse...curse them and their money!". I immediately thought this middle chapter had made an impression, managing to dismantle the golden dust veil that enveloped the classic heroes of the first six episodes and bringing everything back to a level closer to us. Leaving aside the opinion of those naive people who want to convince themselves that Star Wars is not a commercial phenomenon and want to see all possible philosophical references as if it were the last chapter of Twin Peaks, Episode VIII is a decidedly interesting film in being a pure blockbuster with all the advantages and flaws of the format. Yes, because the idea of presenting a failed hero, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill), grappling with his voluntary exile, reminds us of a significant factor in this tormented and critical present: the lack of trust in mentors. Rey (Daisy Ridley) experiences deep inner turmoil and needs a more experienced figure to guide her, help her decipher her doubts about her role in the world, and tame her fears. Luke failed with his nephew, worse, he betrayed him as Rey will discover, and betrayal, pedagogy teaches, is the most terrible act one can commit against a pupil, and he refuses with the dramatic gesture of throwing the sword over his shoulder to meet a sincere request for help. The theme of the "master" role, the guide, addressed by Johnson is not usual at all in a movie that theoretically was supposed to be epic and light-hearted; it is strictly current and just analyzing even in a very light way the current news can confirm that most mentors have abdicated and retreated to their personal remote islands to wallow in self-pity. Even Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (the very talented Adam Driver) is torn internally by the hedonistic desires to establish himself as an important figure and has no trust in the old Snoke (Andy Serkis), he wants something new to begin, but even he has no idea what should start among the ruins of corrupted planets and old imperialist nostalgias. The new that wants to take its part but has no idea of the future, for Kylo Ren it's all a gamble while in Rey, one can see a greater trust in what good can be brought from the past into the future, and those old dusty books saved and secured on the Millenium Falcon prove it.

This epic, without wanting to upset the old fans, no longer belongs to the youth of the '70s/'80s but is of these timid and new kids who today move in a difficult and insecure world, a world in which even the effort one puts into living can lead to nothing. And this is a terrible thought for those who are teenagers today, and we all have the duty to counteract it.