Aeon Flux: Cultures: Bregna

Bregna is an ordered society, technologically advanced and politically well developed. It seems, on the face of it, that Bregna is everything that we could possibly want is available in Bregna. Unfortunately, our most fundamental desire, freedom, is denied. The Breens are subject to some pretty horrendous rules and regulations about movement and activity. They are absolutely NOT allowed to leave Bregna and they may loose their life (or at the very least, some limbs) if they try.

One of the most depressing examples of this was seen in Thanatophobia when we follow the story of the lovely Cybil who tries to leave Bregna to join her lover in Monica. In her first attempt, a border gun shoots he in the back. Her second attempt resulted in her legs being chopped off!

The ordered society in Bregna can also be oppressive. Whenever we see people at work we see them performing monotonous duties. In the Aeon Flux pilot (aptly named Aeon Flux) we see a terrible destruction of a company of Breen soldiers, in the corner we see a group of cleaners waiting patiently to clean up the mess! (It made me laugh anyway).

There are few examples of Breen opulence (except for those shown in Trevor’s apartment) and there are few examples of art or culture. It is easy to conclude therefore, that Bregna is an oppressive society.

Dress scense is a little more formal that Monica, yet besides the drab colours, the fashions are pretty good reeally.

There are few examples of art and music in Bregna. We see some examples in Monica, but considering the setting for each Aeon Flux episode is Bregna, I’m surprised that there are fewer examples. It is easy therefore to conclude that there is none, or at least no overt examples. It is also interesting to notice that there are few examples of closeness, of family values or even friendliness. Sure there is sex, but not we don’t see Breens cuddling or sharing close friendships.

Bregna is probably a very depressing place and one can understand the reason why so many attempt to leave.

Joshua Klessig emailed me a brief but useful synopsis of some information from the Aeon Flux graphical novel “The Herodotus File“

‘Monica and Bregna were once one country called Berognica.

Berognica was a pretty nice place that was a pleasant average of the good aspects of the two states Then the two were split apart and the memory of Berognica were erased(in Bregna) over a few generations by social engineering.

Monica is “disrecognized space” because Bregna does not recognize them as an independent entity Monica has a giant blimp called the Relical containing old artifacts from Berognica There is a group in Monica (The Berognican Reunification Movement) that is trying to rebuild Berognica(a common theme in the series too if you look for it), there are cartographers that are trying to rebuild maps of the original lay of the land, and a terrorist group that tries to messing things up in Bregna and tell people there the truth.

All together it the wall splitting Berognica was built quite suddenly. Families were displaced and many people couldn’t believe that it just “happened”.

Then the Bregna government started a program to destroy all evidence of Breognica by burning history books, destroying artifacts, brainwashing, etc.’

The Aeon Culture Reviews are © 1999, 2000 Tony Fawl.
Not for reproduction without the authors express permission

The Aeon Flux names, characters and everything else associated with the series are the property of Peter Chung, Chung, MTV Networks, Colossal Pictures and Liquid Television. All rights reserved