It's a point well made, Chris, but I still feel like there are treasures to be gleaned from some of these directors; even if you have to break through a seemingly impenetrable wall of brutality to get them. Haneke's Caché was a beautiful film (with one truly gruesome scene in it) that had a lot to say about how we as humans see and interact with each other. And I do derive some enjoyment from Von Trier's Dogville and Dancer in the Dark, bleak though they both may be. Can't speak for Anti Christ though; I'm not sure I could stomach the mutilation bits, so I haven't seen it.
My favorite film that no one had heard of last year was Jiri Menzel's I Served The King of England. It's an incredibly funny and gorgeous look at a waiter who happened to be (among other things) a Nazi sympathizer.
I'd also advise getting yourself one of one of these to keep up with film events.
I'm not planning to see Antichrist which is a shame because I adore Charlotte Gainsbourg, but what can a fellow do? I never had the stomach for graphic violence and lately, intense movies (not even graphically violent ones) give me panic attacks. It's all very upsetting. Personal aside, I almost freaked out on the train reading the first part of Kaz' Mourning Star Vol 2; I probably just have a problem with violence in general
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Ugh. I'm not even considering seeing AC. Not for any artistic reason, but just because I can't handle it. I don't want to handle it. I'm glad that my humanity cries out at the thought and says "No, damnit. Make sure this never happens to you."
I don't think I'm being narrow minded or prudish by thinking it's perverse to attempt this type of thing in cinema. There's plenty of evil in reality to fear, plenty of pain to feel, and plenty of harm to inflict on others. These films don't help us progress toward anything but an embrace of that list--to add ourselves to the canon.
I made my mind up about this subject after watching "Irreversible" and finding nothing of value.
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My favorite film that no one had heard of last year was Jiri Menzel's I Served The King of England. It's an incredibly funny and gorgeous look at a waiter who happened to be (among other things) a Nazi sympathizer.
I'd also advise getting yourself one of one of these to keep up with film events.
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I don't think I'm being narrow minded or prudish by thinking it's perverse to attempt this type of thing in cinema. There's plenty of evil in reality to fear, plenty of pain to feel, and plenty of harm to inflict on others. These films don't help us progress toward anything but an embrace of that list--to add ourselves to the canon.
I made my mind up about this subject after watching "Irreversible" and finding nothing of value.
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