Punishment Park

A on-screen documentarian guiding the audience through the parallel narratives of detainees and tribunal hearings. He observes, interviews, and records, making the film itself a witness to the unfolding conflict. As hostility builds, his role blurs the line between observer and participant.

An official figure within the emergency tribunal who embodies the state's coercive authority. He enforces procedure and makes judgment calls that reflect the legal facade of the park’s harsh rules. His demeanor reveals how power can be exercised through formal processes.

A pacifist detainee who champions nonviolence and conscientious objection to the war. She stands as a moral anchor within the punishment environment, choosing peaceful resistance over surrender. Her presence tests the limits of protest under extreme pressure.

A militant detainee advocating forceful resistance to the war and the park’s rules. He represents the faction willing to confront authority head-on, driving a confrontational dynamic within the group. His faction’s violence underscores the film’s warning about the consequences of militant action.

A detainee who is not fully militant nor fully pacifist, navigating pressure from both sides. He embodies the ethical ambiguity and tension that arises under duress. His choices illustrate the fragility of compromise when faced with extreme coercion.

Another pacifist detainee clinging to nonviolence amidst relentless pursuit. He represents the personal costs of principled protest in a climate of fear and coercion. His stance highlights the moral complexity of resisting a war-driven state.

A semi-militant detainee torn between escalation and restraint. He contends with the practical need for self-preservation amid constant chase. His arc explores the spectrum of resistance tactics among the detainees.

A tribunal defendant who argues his anti-war stance during hearings. He represents the intellectual and moral counter-narratives within the movement, using reasoned defense to challenge the government’s perspective. His testimony adds a legal-rhetorical layer to the proceedings.

A tribunal defendant who speaks at the hearings, presenting her anti-war position to the panel. She embodies the civil dissent voice within the courtroom and contributes to the documentary’s exploration of opposition under state scrutiny.