The Department of Housing Stability’s Ghoulish Statue
October 31st, 2013
Each Thursday, we point out one of the many Easter eggs that have been hidden throughout Silver Circle for observant fans to find. Be sure to keep an eye out for them as you are watching the movie online or --> -->on DVD --> -->. Since today is Halloween, let’s take a closer look at the creepy statue that you might have noticed lurking outside of the headquarters of the Department of Housing Stability.
In the movie, the Department of Housing Stability (HOUSTAB) is a bureaucracy within the Federal Reserve System which is charged with “stabilizing” the prices of homes. However, its mandate is pursued with an ends-justify-the-means approach that often involves forcing homeowners off of their own property. In the same way that the program, which seemed well-intentioned initially, has corroded into something more sinister, the statue out in front of the building, which was commissioned by HOUSTAB officials in an effort to comfort the public, has become a terrifying symbol of the tyrannical nature of the program.
Safe at Last
The statue in front of the Department of Housing Stability is entitled “Safe at Last.” It depicts a towering, ghoulish figure hovering over three children. Though HOUSTAB officials would say that the statue is protecting the children, it was sculpted in a way that implies sinister intent. To bureaucrats in the building who worked on commissioning the project, it is a positive symbol that boosts morale.
However, the general public doesn’t see the statue in the same way as those who work inside. HOUSTAB bureaucrats are too caught up in the tunnel vision of the day-to-day grind and too easily drink from the Kool-Aid of the agency’s mandate to view the statue in the same way as the citizens who are struggling amid the crisis created by HOUSTAB and the Federal Reserve. To the average person, “Safe at Last” looks like a terrifying monster, and the children below seem to be its victims.
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Behind the Scenes
There were some changes made to the statue throughout the production of Silver Circle. The following text was taken from the original script, “In front of the building stands an imposing sculpture of a man holding an umbrella over three children to protect them from the elements.” However, the umbrella idea was tossed aside in the end in favor of the current design, which has a much more sinister feel. Much like Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, the image metaphorically presents a horrific reality caused by good intentions gone wrong.
Next time you’re watching Silver Circle, take a close look at this creepy statue. Its golem-like quality intimidates those who approach the Department of Housing Stability. Given the brutal, violent, and unforgiving nature of HOUSTAB, it also serves as an effective warning. Check back here each Thursday for more Easter eggs from the film, and have a happy Halloween!
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