Runtime:
104 minutes (but I am not sure if I saw the fully uncut movie or the
cut by one minute U.S version; more on that later)
Directed
by: Srdjan Spasojevic
Starring:
Srdjan Todorovic, Sergej Trifunovic, Jelena Gavrilovic, Slobodan
Bestic
From:
Contra Film
Yep...
yep. I watched THIS movie, one of the most infamous-if not the most
infamous-to come out in recent years. It's the movie that caused
controversy and even legal problems for some people across the world
who just tried to screen the movie in a theatre for the public for a
festival or as a special presentation. I mean, more than one film
festival organizer was arrested just for announcing they were going
to show this. No lie. That is unfortunate for the obvious free speech
thing.
While
the filmmakers said that it's an attack on how staid and politically
correct cinema in Serbia is in recent years (and also allegedly
Serbian politics), it certainly seems like the main focus was to
create something really controversial and it sure as hell worked to
get attention to the Serbian film industry. There's rape,
necrophilia, pedophilia, something I'll matter of factly describe as
“baby rape”, and there's more reprehensible material. So yeah,
what a film to choose for a cinematic journey from Hong Kong to
Serbia!
But hey, I've known about it for approximately 3 years now
and I was always curious, although also apprehensive due to the vile
content. Thankfully there's a YouTube video that is 103 minutes and
47 seconds, so it's either the uncut version or the version that was
cut by around 1 minute to be released in the U.S on demand and video
with an NC-17 rating. It is in Serbian with the dialogue being
translated in Russian after a character speaks (a common thing, it
seems, with Russian dubs; don't ask how I know this...) but there's
English subtitles that are an option with the video and they actually
seem accurate. It shouldn't be too difficult to find as long as it
hasn't been taken down by the time you read this.
The
plot: Milos is an old porn star who has a wife and 6 year old son. He
is asked by some shady people to star in some porn films for a nice
amount of cash. He doesn't want to do it but decides so for the
paycheck. Turns out, they make snuff films. Things go REALLY wrong
and there is an explanation as to how he does all the stuff he does
and it isn't just for the money.
Overall... it's actually a competently made movie. It isn't the sort of low-budget dreck that tries to be extreme to get attention (and there are movies like that out there; I've just never seen them). There's talent to be seen and from the script to the story to how it's film, the music to the pacing, it's all put together in a fine manner. It's definitely watchable as a movie and I was able to get through it with no problem and I did not turn it off due to being offended by it. It helped that I already knew of the most extreme stuff, but I wasn't offended by it. It doesn't mean I wasn't grossed out; I just wasn't offended.
As for the allegory stuff... what was presented along those lines wasn't subtle. Things are said out loud in a blunt manner. What I say was the most effective thing was the shock value and getting notoriety for the country's film industry. Undoubtedly that was a success.
While I thought it was fine for what it was, it doesn't mean I need to watch it again. It's still a rough experience as there are plenty of disgusting things and themes and I don't really need to deal with such things on a frequent basis. "Shock" is a legitimate reaction to inspire with any form of art, including a motion picture, so I am fine with that idea. It's just that there better be more than that to make it worthwhile. Thankfully there is more than that here. Your opinion of it will likely depend on your tolerance for the subject matter, not the quality of how things were constructed and put together.
I'll be back tomorrow night with something less controversial.
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