Romper Stomper and the Illusion of Choice (or Lack Thereof)

Okay, so I finally got around to watching 'Romper Stomper' (yes, I'm late, I know!). It's...a lot. The violence is brutal, obviously, and the ideology is repulsive. But what really stuck with me, beyond the shock value, is the sense of utter lack of agency almost everyone has. Hando and his crew are trapped in this cycle of hatred and violence, seemingly unable to break free. But even the Vietnamese community, while presented as more sympathetic, are ultimately reacting to circumstances pushed upon them. There's a feeling of inevitability throughout, like nobody has any real control over the escalating conflict. Take Davie, for example. He's arguably the most human character in the film, showing glimmers of conscience and even affection. Yet, he's ultimately pulled back into Hando's orbit, despite seemingly wanting out. That scene where he almost leaves with Gabrielle and then chooses to stay...man, that's heartbreaking. Is it loyalty? Fear? A deeply ingrained self-destructive impulse? I think the film brilliantly suggests all three are tangled up, creating a complex, disturbing portrait of someone trapped by his own choices (or the illusion of them). I almost felt sorry for Hando at times, even though I know I shouldn't. There's a sense that he's a product of his environment, fueled by a twisted interpretation of history and a deep-seated insecurity. Doesn't excuse his actions, obviously, but it does add a layer of tragic complexity. Maybe that's why the ending feels so nihilistic. There's no real resolution, just a continuation of the cycle. Gabrielle's death basically seals this, extinguishing any hope for redemption, even from afar. The film is trying, imo, to say that while hate can be actively propagated, it only festers in the absence of agency, where the characters no longer have the hope to do anything else. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but this feeling of powerlessness is what really resonated with me. It’s not just a movie about skinheads doing awful things; it's a commentary on how social forces and individual choices can create a horrifying, inescapable trap. Anyone else get that vibe? Or am I just projecting? I need to rewatch it, because I'm still feeling really disturbed afterwards.