In Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 hit movie Django Unchained, the themes of identity, power, and injustice are clearly present issues throughout the entirety of the film. The film is situated just two years before the Civil War in which slavery and racial segregation was at an all-time high. The plotline itself centers around Django who was previously a slave. After being freed by German dentist and bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, the pair begins their mission to hunt the most wanted criminals in the South, many of which are wealthy, racist, and white plantation owners.
This film addresses the issue of power through a variety of different dynamics. Foremost, power is addressed through the master vs. slave relationship. Throughout this movie, there are a variety of different characters and individuals involved in this master vs. slave dynamic. Since the protagonist of the movie, Django, was a former slave, the plotline obviously makes the audience sympathize with the slaves more than the masters, which in this case are often the plantation owners. Another obvious power dynamic exists within the racial segregation. Since this movie is depicting pre-Civil War America, there is an obvious unfair sharing of power between people of color and the white people. This notion and unfair balance of power is present within the entire movie and the resolution of the plot seemingly suggests that this unbalanced power sharing is immoral. Additionally, this film attempts to explore injustice through the display of the cruel ways in which the plantation owners treat their slaves. The whole role of Django and Dr. Schultz is to make the plantation owners face retribution for their actions and the harmful ways in which they have treated their slaves.
Overall, while Quentin Tarantino movies always seem to include just the right amount of action as well as overall interesting plot development, I think that Django Unchained attempts to really address identity, power, and injustice. I think his main purpose in the creation of this movie is to inspire individuals to fight for what is right and to stand up against injustice