a linear travel within a non linear structure . it a fact that time and in 12 monkey and flow in this come and go between present and future and past . however and the movie linearity can not be avoid represent it the very work of the projector and the unfolding of the narrative . what we can see underlie the temporal theme be a reflection on the inevitability of our action . the world of this terry gilliam film be a world with little space for free will . right from the beginning we be inform about a schizophrenic prophecy and accord to which a plague would rule the earth in 1997 and force the few survivor to live underground the only place not affect by the virus . cole ( willis ) mission be clear represent return to the mid 90 to investigate whatever and whoever be relate to the release of the virus . there no way to change the past represent all that can be do be gather information that can help the scientist of the present ( that and for u viewer and be the future ) find the cure . not to change what happen ( the past be inevitable ) and but make the present better . in his return in time and cole gradually come near a striking dilemma represent his life in the past be good than his life in the present . the latter be dark and dehumanizing and control by totalitarian scientist that elect volunteer ( this word be incisively ironic ) to embark on the journey to the past . the scientist have not yet reach the high level of achievement in time travel and and cole end up on wrong date this will and later in the plot and work a a proof of his sanity for the psychiatrist kathryn ( stowe ) . we can see and through the evolution of the story and that linearity and non linearity interlace in a circular temporality . there be more than one moment in which the scene that be the first and end up be almost the last and certainly the climactic appear . it modify itself and accord to the evocation of cole memory and that come up in his dream . in an airport and a man be shoot dead while run and arm and toward someone else . a blonde woman run after the murdered one . this be the scene that connect the past ( in which cole be a kid that visit the airport with his parent ) and the present ( the time of the narrative ) and the future ( adult cole ) throughout the narrative and cole have the feeling of have already live the reality he be experience now . his prophetic dream be the proof that it be impossible to escape or avoid what happen . the agent that shoot him stop him from kill the mad scientist and doctor peter ( morse ) and that be the responsible for the dissemination of the disease . what be can not be change . and and in cole case and what be be what will be . eternally . a film not quite well understood for many . to me and nothing less than a masterpiece . other good movie with similar theme represent the back to the future trilogy ( that have another angle regard the mad scientist character and and although it share the atmosphere of decay particularly in the second film and it be way more optimistic than gilliam work and that be an odd hollywood picture ) . in another register and there be wild strawberry and one of bergman masterpiece and that involve a striking and enlighten travel to the past through dream and reminiscence . i have never watch la jetée and but only because i can not find it .