What’s left to fight for?

Alita: Battle Angel

***SPOILERS***

Kristus i Getsemane (1873), an angel comforting Jesus before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834–1890). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gethsemane_Carl_Bloch.jpg)

The angel. A recurring theme since its injection into western culture. The illuminating wings, dress and skin representing divinity, and when juxtaposed next to earthly man, as in the case of many paintings, original sin and retribution are on full display. In art, the angel often morphs into a mold of the highest ideals for a given culture.

In It’s a Wonderful Life, the angel becomes wingless, old and draped in proletarian garb. The egalitarian 1940s of America places value not on powerful aesthetics. The raggy angel guides the main character George, as he chooses between chasing his life long dreams or protecting his community. He chose the latter. Thereby solidifying the moral values and actions for his world.

Alita further deviates from the traditional characteristics of the angel, though she still holds true to the angelic virtue of humanity. Added on top is her fearless and combative nature. She pronounces her motto “I will not standby in the presence of evil” with romantic aggression. Instead of shiny and clear skin, Alita marks her face with the blood of an innocent puppy slain before her. The warrior spirit appends battle to angel. Forming not a Yin Yang balance, nor competing mindsets, but a killing machine fighting for the human spirit. A paradox, and an apparent monster in our world, but a celestial being for the setting of the film. As the angel traditionally guides men closer to God, so too does Alita for the people she encounters. Again though, divinity also differs from the expected.

The angel from It’s a Wonderful Life guiding George

Alita starts without identity nor memory but retains her humanity. She is awestruck by the new world around her and constantly deriving meaning from it. Hugo, the scrappy bad boy, see’s no hope in Iron City. “The strong prey on the weak down here. You gotta stay focused on your dream.” Rejecting the world he grew up in and by doing “whatever it takes” to enter Zalem, Hugo closes his perspective and opens his soul to corruption. His secret spot is the roof of a collapsed church where he has probably spent countless hours looking up at Zalem and daydreaming. Faith broken and substituted. Alita brings new light to Hugo’s ruined ideals. Drawn to this, Hugo begins to uncover his own good nature by graciously introducing Alita to the city, which she accepts and reciprocates with immense passion. It is through their relationship that we can see the forces at battle in their world.

To win in Iron City is to ride the wave of influence flowing from Nova. Only from him can power be allowed to exist. Guns are outlawed. The virility of warriors transferred to Motorball and bounty hunting. A few pawns such as Vector and Grewishka for direct enforcement. Wielding the Damascus Blade, Alita slices through Nova’s fascist reality. She tears apart the concept of serving for evil despite given circumstances. Even when she’s beaten in battle and every limb amputated, there is no cry for help, begs of mercy or fear of death. To Alita, there is only fighting for what you believe in. She catapults from the ground with her only remaining arm and attacks the evil head on. “Fuck your mercy.”

Alita marking herself with the blood of the innocent

“Iron City is no place for the innocent” cries the hulking madness known as Grewishka. Vulnerability and kindness lead you open to the slaughter of society. A path left for the fools and the helpless. Alita unconditionally chooses that path. To help Hugo reach Zalem, she literally offers to give up heart. “It’s all or nothing with me.” Even if that means sacrificing her own life for his.

The culminating actions of fearlessness and love lead to forces that usurp the structures that be. Selfish Chiren drops her dreams of reaching Zalem upon witnessing Alita and Hugo caught in the hurricane of tragedy. “I’m a doctor … and a mother … and somehow I forgot that.” To see love so powerful is to transcend the material. Even Dr. Ido, with a bit of arm twisting, built the courage to let go of his demons and embrace Alita as a warrior. “[The Beserker body] is just a shell. It’s not bad or good. That part’s up to you.” The scientist who built Frankenstein crucifies his past with hope.

Alita: “Did you ever find peace?” Ido: “I found you”

Alita and Hugo contemplating dreams and identity

To what divine purpose does Alita bring to the mortal men of Iron City? The hell that Nova created still flourishes around them. What can be cherished in this heap of trash? Why the most basic principle of being with loved ones. What Iron City has long forgotten. What Hugo couldn’t see without Alita.

Hugo: “It’s the only way … if I go down there I’m dead … we belong [in Zalem] Alita” Alita: “We don’t belong anywhere, except together.” Hugo: “We’ll always be running…” Alita: “… together .. come with me … please .. we can be free”

The love of others rules over everything else for Alita. Zalem is no replacement. The realization that saved Hugo’s soul.

Hugo: “Thank you [Alita] … for saving me”

It’s also the realization that the film leaves for it’s audience. The story of Alita: Battle Angel is truly timeless and universal. The same humanity that drives Alita resides in us. The will to power fighting for this humanity carries us forward.