I was trying so so hard to understand it and here's what I was able to construe...
There are two worlds and four paths:
World 1: Revolution & Progress
World 2: Family & The Next Generation
"Paths" are chosen by accepting/rejecting either world.
Bob rejects R&P and accepts F&NG
PBH accepts R&P and rejects F&NG
Lockjaw rejects R&P and accepts F&NG
Willa accepts R&P and accepts F&NG
All characters, no matter their choices or intentions, struggle with problems from each world. No matter their path, they face One Battle After Another...
So... if that's what's supposed to be so profound about the film, why doesn't it work? Well, neither "world" is properly established; there are no stakes for the success or failure of campaigns in either world.
And speaking of campaigns/goals/plotlines... none of those are established well either! What does the French 75 want? Are they rebels, anarchists, socialists - how do they actually identify and what do they want based on that? What precisely are they upset about with the government? Yes, immigration/race/equality issues. But why? What is their goal? What is their solution? It's perfectly acceptable for them to not have a solution, for their goal to just be: "cause chaos, upset the system, smarter people will pick up the pieces," but even that isn't established. [@antumbral-archon - wanna chime in on the politics of it all?]
And who the hell is Willa? What does she care about? What are her beliefs, dreams, etc. We never have a clear "I want" scene with her. She is only ever shown to be an angsty high school girl who cares for but is (justifiably) upset with her father. Okay. And?
I'm all for "show don't tell," I'm all for making the audience do some legwork, infer some histories, pick up on implications... but we weren't even given a starting point.
TL;DR -- I think that One Battle After Another doesn't succeed in establishing a vibrant world with interesting characters, thereby leaving the audience out to dry for 2 hours and 46 minutes.
dededos
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