The utopia's of Fahrenheit 451 and Alphaville

Science fiction opens up a whole new set of ideas when put into cinema. Moreover, many things feel different as science fiction is very distinct from or genre of film. Distinctions include the emotions of the characters, the use of music pertaining to each scene in the film, the dialogue between characters, the environment which the film is set as well as other distinct aspects.
An aspect which both of these films had in common was the setting of a utopia, or a society where there are very strict guidelines pertaining toward a certain thing. Not only that but the clothing of certain characters and the architecture of the buildings convey an idea of uniformity. This is particularly apparent in Fahrenheit 451 where the men who serve in the department of 451, which can be compared to a fire department, are all in the same black leather uniform with a black hat and black gloves. These men act the same and even move the same. There is a particular neighborhood shown in this movie where each house is the same almost identical. This is also an aspect with the role of the females in Alphaville where each woman wears the same type of button up dress unaware of this uniformity. These are just very simple aspects of the uniformity of these two utopia societies.
The use of music helped to contribute to the feeling of a utopia as well with chaotic entrances and exits. The music almost always consisted of a fast tempo abruptly stopping at times with loud and complicated phrases. There where many points throughout both films where a great of time was used without music which helped to convey the idea of suppression of emotions. When the music did appear it was almost never comfortable.
I think utopia is the best word to describe these two societies particularly because of the emotions or suppression or emotions of each character. In 451 the main rule surrounding this particularly society is that it is forbidden to read. The authorities argue that reading makes people depressed or sad and has no place in society; instead they have newspapers without writing just pictures. Showed through the film, the absence of reading created suppressed and confused emotions in each character. Examples of this are the absence of happy or sad emotions crying or smiling, many if not all of the emotions were monotone or without change. It seemed that the movie started off with the people of this society as content and continuously throughout the film the characters stayed this way. This suppression of emotion is also present through the constant use of medicine or pills, pills which I made a comparison to anti-depressants in this day and age.
Alphaville also has a great deal of a characters emotional suppression particularly the women. The role of the women in Alphaville was a bit confusing but I interpreted it slightly as a sexual role or a service role like a maid. The women would follow the men to their hotel rooms and always ask if the men are tired and if they would like to rest. When one man asked a woman what she does she responds that she is a seductress. These women’s emotions are suppressed by always responding and being of service to a man, as well as the idea that in Alphavilla it is illegal to think illogically. This illogical thinking is processed by Alpha 60 a computer in the city who acts as the law.
I believe that there is a strong message conveyed in each of these movies when pertaining to this idea of a utopia which must be accomplished by a suppressing of emotions. When very strict rules are put into place like the illegality of literature or the illegality of thinking illogically, people end up wanting more than there is; a taste of what it is like outside of the walls of constriction. In Fahrenheit 451 this is evident with the constant showing of characters caressing themselves. When one caresses themselves it is because there is something missing from there lives, mainly emotions. And the emotions felt when reading books is very important for the stability of a human being. In Alphaville this is also very apparent as the women go through the same dialogue with each man they are assigned to. Their suppression of emotion leads them to think of more. These movies convey the idea that such strict rules leading to the suppression of emotion have no value and in the end cause more harm than good.