Whoa, this is a searing expose. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I’d heard of this film, it shares a few similarities to “Capturing the Friedmans”. Actually there was a line that made me think of that film, and that is Sasha (the main subject/narrator/director) saying that “people don’t film, you know, the bad things, they film all the nice moments” (paraphrase). Whereas in “Capturing the Friedmans” there are loads of negative, dark moments and arguments recorded; in “Rewind”, Sasha and his family have filmed mostly the typical things you’d expect in family videos. We see birthdays, bar mitzvahs, holidays, and regular moments at home—- punctuated with a few glimpses of Sasha’s emotional outbursts and disturbances.
His narration coupled with the recollections of his family members adds a very deep exploration into how things aren’t always as they seem. He discusses what he remembers from those times, even sometimes down to the day, in sharp detail he recalls his feelings of sadness, betrayal, and frustration that leads to suicidal thoughts.
Eventually he braves the storm to reveal what’s been happening to him, which unravels a long history of horrible crimes perpetrated by a trusted member of their religious community.
This is a precious documentary, although it certainly is a a dark, sad one. It’s hard to explain in a simple review just what all goes on here. You see not only old moments that depict what was, at the time, inexplicable mood swings and deep family tension, you also see the family sticking together through what truly had to have been a traumatic time for all of them. The film seems to have promoted a lot of healing just in its making, but they discuss how all of this went down long before it was even made. It gives a lot of insight on how predators operate, even though that isn’t the main subject.
Definitely recommend, although it certainly isn’t a light watch. Bless this family for speaking out.
cloroxbleach's comments
Looking forward to this. I once saw Sun Ra and his Cosmic Arkestra back in the early ‘80’s, I think. At one point, in the middle of the cacophony, he stopped playing, pulled out his telescope, and looked up through it - to receive further instructions from his home planet, Saturn - and then resumed playing. He was (is) quite a spirit.
Whoa you got to see him live? That’s awesome! What a trip that must’ve been. It’s always so fun to see someone mutually absorbed in their work—- I mean like, the art is creating them while they create art. It’s not something that can be faked or produced, it just -is-. That’s why I like him. I hope our comments lead to others discovering this fun musician.
it is hilarious to watch leftist college babies criticize our billionaire president… you mad bro? lol you aint gettin rich on no gender studies degree…
you don’t have to be a leftist to disapprove of Trump’s propaganda and lack of business skills. He certainly didn’t get rich through hard work, being a good business person, or being highly educated. His “small loan of a million dollars” definitely gave him a step ahead that many people simply would never have. He doesn’t value the lives of republican americans anymore than democrats. He’s very detached from the lives of average people regardless of political orientation.
Reminiscent of old forest folk tales and legends of animistic mountains and gods, “Lamb” is a brilliantly dark adventure into unpredictable territory. The contrast of beautiful landscapes with the chilly tone sets up the scene for our main characters, two childless farmers in very rural Iceland. Subtle hints gently pull you along with expert intrigue, as not just the farmers but their animals too communicate important details. This tale pushes and prods you along, reigning you in as a dog would herd its sheep.
This is truly a special film. Special effects are sparing yet excellent, lending a very dramatic effect to key scenes. The sense of mystery is chilling and atmospheric, allowing the story to unspool itself in front of you. One of the most interesting aspects is that it allows the viewer to consider many things, such as what defines personhood, how humans interact with animals and nature, the feelings of a mother, and the spirit of the mountains. Noomi Rapace delivers a particularly powerful, emotional performance—- the sparse dialogue allows us to appreciate her nuanced facial expressions, you really are along for a palpable ride where heartache, happiness, fear and devotion clash.
This was perfect for Halloween, but I would watch again anytime. Definitely check it out if you’d like a deeply sinister fairytale.
Oh, this is a wonderful upload, I can’t wait to revisit it. If anyone out there is unfamiliar with Sun Ra and you like experimental music—- you will dig this. Sun Ra was avant-garde even for that scene, but there’s a distinct lack of pretentiousness that makes even his most bizarre works inviting and curious. There are few artists out there anymore who have this type of enmeshment of their inner and outer selves, tangling with their creative blood, manifesting (in this case) as sounds. Roll one up and chill out with Sun Ra on a boring day, you won’t be disappointed.
Ok, I was unprepared for this one. My partner had been trying to figure out what this was called for awhile, and I was really interested once we found it.
This starts off as a fairly bland scene—- a bunch of sailors trapped in a shit situation, desperately trying to distract themselves from their bleak reality. But that distraction works, and soon you’re following along without any idea where you’re going. Hazy sequences flit between an odd, dizzy type of humor and various outbursts when reality gets a bit too thick for our unfortunate (yet resilient) stuck mariners.
There isn’t really a good way to describe this film without ruining it, but suffice to say I found it thoroughly entertaining and very… curious. That’s a good descriptor for this one. Very curious, and I’m still not quite sure what to make of it all. Everyone will interpret this film differently , but imo that’s part of its charm. I’ll be watching it again sometime, and it will certainly be a ‘new’ experience even the second time.
This is a weird, weird little film right here. I saw this as a child and it confused the hell out of me, but I found it entertaining anyway. Later I tracked it down, only vaguely remembering it. It’s visually quite striking, lots of bright colours and odd, creeping textures dancing around. Trippy but still child-friendly—- particularly if you’ve got a kid who just loves weird stuff—- I think this film is quite a bit better than the reviews it got when first released. There’s some clunky elements but overall it’s fun.
Neither is conspiracy theory the “answer”.
Well, yes, I certainly agree with that as well. It’s fair to say that it’s healthy to question and examine the government and question whether it has good intentions for its people. Beyond that though, the Q Anon thing is pretty cult like, it’s based on a lot of hearsay and nonsense, and it doesn’t actually encourage people to think for themselves. My gran lived through the Great Depression and WW2 and I think she’s right when she told me that “people tend to start believing bizarre things under times of distress or disorder”. I’m not gonna blather on about my own opinions of Q (except that I’ll say it’s a crazy story with more plot holes than ‘facts’, with no objectivity or “research” whatsoever).
The point of my comment though was that it’s creepy to me how people are so “one or the other” about everything. If you dislike Trump, you were assumed to love Hilary. If you say you’re not into the left, people assume you must be on the right. In particular, many people who claim to be “left” (and thus assume that means they’re the “progressive ones” who care about human rights and all-sorts of other good things) but then they adamantly are against freedom of speech. That’s what I meant by fascism creeping in from all sides, I Feel political correctness is simply another annoying thread of fascism.
The left and the right are two wings of the same poisoned bird.
This is a really fun documentary. When a down and out Canadian actor discovers he’s famous in a country on the other side of the world, he goes on an unexpectedly soulful adventure. We see a man in a transitional stage in his life and a country in a transitional post-war phase, sharing positivity, kindness, and laughs. All this accompanied by some bright and shiny Balkan brass music, we get to see a unique view of what it was like growing up during the war and what made it possible to laugh and survive.
Wow… I’d totally forgotten about how weird this story was, reading about it awhile ago. This is a wild ride for a documentary. It’s the sort of film that’s better if you just watch it rather than reading too much about it first. If you’re looking for a real weird story (which is at least one thing I typically like in docs), this is a good one. Somehow the filmmaker managed to untangle this bizarre series of events into a well-paced, flowing narrative that takes you through many twists. It’s surprising how much chaos a person can cause in their own life with the power of too much cash, the sense of entitlement, and a gooey center of delusion.
Pour a drink and watch this on a boring rainy night, you won’t be disappointed.
How come. Are the two stories related?
They have some interesting relevance, let’s say they happen within the same “universe”
Oh boyo I am so pleased to see this linked here! This is a gleefully ridiculous send-up of materialist, elitist culture with excellent special FX. Like an absurdist combination of elements reminiscent of “Parents” (yes, the one with Randy Quaid) and “Eyes Wide Shut”, we follow our young protagonist as he discovers what his parents are really up to. Accompanied by excellent, careful cinematography and decent acting (even in the scenes where I’m sure the performers felt kinda silly). Bristling with eccentric, “wrong” humor, there’s plenty of scenes where you’ll find yourself asking “WTF did I just watch?” or abruptly cackling uncomfortably.
Although a bit dated now, the special effects I’d previously mentioned really are quite good. Even more appreciable these days, as many films rely mostly or wholly on CGI for sets and certain costumes. That’s all well and good, but a film like this simply wouldn’t be the same without handmade effects.
Overall, the film is likeable for its uniqueness alone, but also worthwhile for its carefully mixture of offbeat humor, parody, body horror, and a creeping “wrongness”.
Definitely check it out if you’re tired of the majority “horror/comedy” films that are usually not funny nor scary. If you were taking grownup Wednesday Addams on a drive-in date, she’d wanna see this one.
This is a hilarious classic from the Satanic Panic era of the USA, a time when having long hair and too many black tshirts could get you sent to boot camp and labeled “a devil worshipper”. This was apparently used in actual law enforcement, which is also quite humorous if you don’t dwell on the real life implications. Great for Halloween drinking games.
This is a wonderful vintage documentary, perfect for a lazy rainy day when you want to watch something insightful and calming. Beautiful shots of the frozen North, we see Nanook and his wives demonstrating traditional skills like building a gorgeous roomy igloo and hunting with spears. While these were staged for effect (the igloo apparently had to be built only half-way due to lighting issues), they show off the resourcefulness of the native people.
The igloo scene is really especially cool, and there’s some very endearing shots of Nanook’s son playing happily in the snow.
While not entirely historically accurate (that is, for example, most native people would’ve used guns/regular fishing equipment rather than spears by this time), it still gives a wonderful snapshot of Inuit culture. There’s something very charming and bright about this film, it makes the blinding and sometimes bleak snow seem beautiful and intense. Definitely a treat for anyone who loves nature footage, especially less-visited areas.
An excellent film, far ahead of its time both for the content as well as the cinematography—- to film outside during this era, one had to be very creative working with natural lighting, especially with a mostly white colour scheme. Impressive, poetic and relaxing, there’s something in this film that always makes me smile.
Isn’t this how everyone vacuums?
no but that’s just cuz I’m ugly and I don’t want my dog and cat to go blind :P
I remember seeing this as a kid at the drive-ins. Us kids were allowed to watch the first movie (that i don’t even remember), then told to go to sleep in the back of the Rambler station wagon, but i stayed awake and peeked lol. Imo movies were so much better back then. I prefer a stationary camera rather than today’s hand held ‘shaky camera’ nonsense. Also the sound is at one level, not going from low to blasting like today. Cinematography was better, no over-makeup, not drenched in light. Boy i miss those days. 9/10
Couldn’t agree more, my man…! Although there are still many directors that don’t go for the terrible “loud hollywood soundtrack” and shit cinematography, but they’re usually not famous (or they are, but not in the USA!)
This is a very different kind of horror movie. I felt a lot of references/homages to old directors like Hitchcock, there were many scenes that reminded me of “Vertigo” and “The Birds”. This film maintains a sense of dread and anxiety throughout, enriched with excellent noir-like high contrast lighting. There’s a high level of subtlety here—-it’s more of a slow burn, which it seems a lot of people don’t have the patience for. Although IMO it was a bit too long, and some elements were a bit less coherent than they could’ve been. If the storytelling had been a bit tighter, it would’ve been easier to understand. That said, it’s not a movie for people who expect a fast-paced, blunt, typical horror film. All too often, recent horror films seem to explain each nuance step-by-step, beating you over the head with “THIS IS THE PART THAT IS A METAPHOR, AND IT MEANS/SYMBOLIZES THIS AND THAT” (looking at you, “the babadook”—-a dumpster fire that could’ve easily been good). This movie doesn’t do that, period. It’s certainly artistic, strange and overflowing with anxious energy.
That said, I think the main character (the mum) could’ve had their backstory explained a little better, and the lead-up to the ending was a bit…muddled. The finale reminded me a lot of how “the Birds” ends, if you’ve seen that.
7/10 would recommend.
“unfettered free speech” is an American tradition and part of our culture. Whether you agree with “Q” stuff or not, there’s fascism creeping in from all sides. When will people learn that the “answer” isn’t censorship?
This is a slow burn film, not for the impatient. It’s definitely one where you have to sit in a nice, quiet dark room and let the visual effects absorb. To me, it is one of the most beautiful and stark films dealing with aliens, and certainly one of the most unique. If you’re expecting an action or more traditional sci-fi alien film, this one may not be for you. It definitely veers closely to the “art house” genre, but not quite. There is very little dialogue, and a lot left up to your own interpretation—- something many fans of Hollywood films might not enjoy, as it doesn’t spell out every detail or explain every metaphor play-by-play as it is happening.
Every scene is very carefully crafted, a smoldering mix of soft nuance and stark bleakness. The ending hit me like a ton of bricks, even though it happens rather quickly after a long build.
One after another, we’re often presented with obvious, loud, ugly and over the top special effects in American cinema—— not so here. The FX alone deserve high praise in their artistry, a delicate balance of contrasting feelings put forth with very little dialogue and unique imagery.
It is also quite nice to see Scarlett Johansen in something decidedly different than the films she’s usually in. As I mentioned, there is very little dialogue, but she carries each scene with an intensity (that still remains carefully subtle) that reminds me of certain old silent film stars. Her face, her eyes, are deeply expressive, and convey a lot more than words could, especially for such strange subject matter like an alien trying to navigate the human world in a borrowed human body.
This is one of high strangeness, much creepier and colder than your typical space alien film, a bit more reminiscent of some of the stranger accounts of IRL alien encounters. It’s moody, dark, bitter, cold, and at times confusing, but left me with a lot to think about regarding symbolism and what a ‘human experience’ might be to another being.
LOL and yet lefties continue to vote in the same do nothing dems for decades. Dems care for nothing but power. They will crush the U.S. economically for it without blinking an eye.
I have plenty of criticism for the so-called “left” as well. It shouldn’t be this side or that, the country is simply too large and diverse for there to be only 2 options. Precisely why I was saying just because you don’t like one candidate doesn’t mean you like the other. I’d say that historically there’s been some decisions made by Repub presidents that are still having really negative affects on the country—- just look at how well “trickle down economics” works.
Any politician for the most part “cares for nothing but power”. That’s sort of the nature of the game. But in particular we have a president who can’t even be bothered to go on tv often and speak to “his” people, he does it through f/cking twitter. He clearly only wanted the presidency to say he was president, to have that power, and to buddy up to people like Putin. We’re all disposable trash to him, he’s never had to live like an average person and he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about any of us. The last time we had a democrat prez, he was thwarted at every turn when trying to “do something” and trying to clean up the mess left behind from Lil Bush. We all could’ve been given completely free healthcare had the bill not gotten mutilated in process (which ended up screwing over some small biz owners, etc). It’s just not as simple as Dems vs Reps.
Wild to think this was made in 1975, as I feel like this was both appropriate for the era but also ahead of its time. That said, it still fits with the Current Year, maybe even on a broader scope. This could be seen as a send up of Hollywood culture, but there’s so much more. I randomly remembered this book but barely, what a nice surprise to find this movie.
Karen Black is on a roll here—- perfectly over the top, sparkly and silly amid a backdrop of palm trees and chaos. If you’ve not read the book, the plot can be a little confusing but it’s likely the excellent scenery will keep your attention as well. There really is a lot going on here ,but I’d rather not turn this into a long analysis as there are many ways you could perceive all the elements here.
What I will say is that this is an exceptionally poetic, artfully trashy and gleefully dark film that takes familiar archetypes and stereotypes, pits them against one another, relishes the tension and then just shreds the whole mess. The dreamy, shimmery film (REAL film yall!) adds a feverish, dizzy effect— and of course that Old Hollywood look—- softening the voyeuristic, sneaky angles that give us insight or emphasis on different situations, some very small.
There’s a lot to pay attention to here, and while it’s a long film it certainly isn’t boring. We’ve got a weird assortment of characters who at once are spirited but also crushed and despondent, the emotional exploration fans and swells into an unexpectedly intense ending (I’d apparently forgotten how the book ended).
Are you feeling jaded but you still want to laugh a bit? This hits that spot.
If you’re a stoner and/or a cat lover, Key & Peele have made a movie for you… This joint is hilarious. My only complaint is that I wish the kitten would’ve been featured a bit more, bc damn it’s a cute cat.
This film is over-the-top ridiculous. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be an extreme (very extreme) parody of Serbian stereotypes or what exactly the filmmaker was trying to accomplish. It’s actually filmed nicely, from a cinematography perspective, there’s good pacing and lighting, and the tension really is palpable.
However, it’s really kind of pointless. I like a lot of “extreme cinema” (such as the original French “Martyrs” and other Extreme French Horror, Michael Hanneke’s films, “Taxidermia” from Hungary, etc)—- but this one just feels empty and shallow. It’s needlessly gross, to the point of being almost laughable. There’s certainly moments that are meant to be darkly humorous in their extremism, but the hype of it being “the worst/most extreme/fvcked up film ever made” falls very flat because it just lacks any depth whatsoever. It’s reminiscent of something like “Hostel”, a vague storyline with an excuse to try and shock people. For people like me, who can appreciate extremism in art, this offers basically nothing.
The main actor who plays “Vukmir”, Zika Todorovic, is the son of legend Bora Todorovic, and his acting style is quite like that of his father. I feel his skills are completely wasted on a movie like this. I wasn’t “offended”, just bored. People walk into this one expecting to be offended and will be, even knowing that of course, it is all just a movie (gross as some scenes may be). To me this is just another type of “Human Centipede” movie, it offers very little beyond shock value.
I hope that foreigners unfamiliar with Serbia will not assume that anything in this film is representative of the whole of Serbia and its culture.
Would I recommend this film? Not really, unless you like seeing extreme cinema for the sake of extremity. There are plenty of far better films from Serbia to see, of course that are nothing like this.
I do think people need to calm down about this film though, it is literally only a movie, and not a particularly noteworthy one at that. If you have a dark sense of humor, there are certain scenes that you might make you smirk, but otherwise? It’s pretty hollow and boring.
It’s a shame there aren’t links available. I will try to hunt down one or upload my own if i can figure out how, for this is a film I think a lot of people should see. It’s got an odd…(dare i say) nearly “whimsical”, maybe (?) element to it, which I think is mostly an expression of the protagonist’s personality IRL (or perhaps, his personality as a kid/young man). This is quite different than most WWII films, especially ones featuring ordinary people, rather than the more typical ‘epic war drama’. Although it does have plenty of that, it also explores the stress and downright absurdity caused by the Nazi regime. The main ‘character’ is based on a real person, and his story (even though this is a dramatization, ofc), absolutely deserves to be heard and remembered. 8/10 **
This is a unique, obscure animation. Lots of great painted backgrounds, a unique animation style, and loads of double entendres. The musical bits are pretty weak, some of the voice acting isn’t the best but most of it is quite good. Overall an interesting little find.
I recently revisited this film, after having only seen it once about 20 years ago. Suffice to say, I didn’t enjoy it even the second time around.
While in technique, it is a “good” film—- excellent acting, expert camera work, appropriate lighting — it felt entirely too long. The brief description above is pretty accurate. That is, this is not an action movie, and has very little “action” to speak of.
We see a talented artist trying to translate his conflicting infatuation and annoyance (hence, the title) with his muse. From there goes on scene after scene of an impatient, frustrated girl, sitting uncomfortably for a somewhat cold painter. The questions “truth, life and artistic limits” are laid out, but in the most listless, rambling way. Conversations between the artist and model are deadpan, flat and similarly cold, with very little breaking up the monotony.
Whenever the pace happens to pick up, I found it disappointing that these swells of tension didn’t really lead anywhere. I’m not the sort that needs every single metaphor or double meaning explained to me, but perhaps I found their conversations dull because I personally found the characters unrelatable. That said, there are several instances where you’d think something dramatic or important is about to happen, only instead, the model and artist are arguing again. It just feels rather shallow for something that goes on well beyond 2 hours.
This was labeled an “erotic drama”, yet it’s hardly arousing (unless you’re counting a nude figure art model as “eroticism”) and the drama rarely veers beyond arguing. If anything, it maintains a passive aggressive vibe throughout. The title is oddly fitting, as the film is technically ‘beautiful’, yet…annoying to watch.
To me, this is the type of film that steers less-adventurous movie fans away from (so-called) “foreign films” (or more specifically, the stereotype that French films are boring, inexplicable and pretentious).
Perhaps, though, I missed something? I’d love to hear someone else’s opinion on this one.
He’s definitely a force of nature, I don’t think he actually does much currently other than use his name to make crazy money. No hate, he deserves it. I was in a band called ‘Wolf Dick’ and all our songs were summaries of Law & Order episodes. “You did it! You did it! She’s dead and ‘Nofrio tilted his head!”
Hooooly shit that’s an excellent band, I would’ve loved to have seen a show like that 😂
I really enjoyed this film. It’s rare to see such naturalistic acting in American filmmaking, especially when it has the potentially-sensational plot involving a cult. This plays out very realistically as the two brothers explore their relationship with one another and their past, contemplating what each should do next. These actors work well together, and the film has an overall pleasantly-eerie vibe. There’s lots of scenes filmed in soft, relaxing lighting, the beautiful house surrounded by trees and seemingly blissful people, contrasted by a nagging and strange tension that builds quite nicely. There’s some nuanced spookiness, curious motives, and a slightly “off” friendly hippy vibe that makes a perfect setting for something a little more mystical.
Don’t take the advice of the first reviewer and “fast forward” through the entire story just to get to the end. If you don’t have the patience to get absorbed in a story like this and let it unfold, just watch something you’d prefer with a fast pace. This is an excellent film and a companion to the same director’s “Resolution” (which I didn’t care for as much but is nonetheless also a good film).
Just for kicks I checked out a random episode. This show is very cute, and I think it’s good for kids from anywhere to learn about the unique and beautiful aspects of Indian culture.
If you’re looking for a more subtle, psychological thriller-type horror film, you might want to check out this one.
This film follows a very anxious puppeteer loping through a jarring, eerie fever dream as he attempts to piece together his disintegrating life. With very little dialogue, Sean Harris paints a brutally grim picture with emotive, intense facial expressions, as expertly as a silent actor from decades ago.
The colour scheme is also reminiscent of old pictures, lending a faded, crumpling aspect that ebbs and flows with dreamlike confusion. Our main character is tormented by not only his past, but also by his unseemly living situation, and what appears to be a dark entity stalking him just to upend any brief calm he tries to grasp.
There are no explosions, gore or crazy special effects. No, this actually is probably quite low-budget, but don’t let that deter you. It’s a slow burn without being too long, and the story unfolds in a way that’s almost as graceful as it is jarring.
Refreshingly different, with a stark atmosphere that makes for an engaging mystery.
This certainly was interesting, and different than I expected. If you didn’t follow this case through the podcast (“Catching the Golden State Killer”) or read McNamara’s book, you might want to familiarize yourself with the story before watching.
The first episode really draws you in, but this focuses more on how the book was written and the life its author. The narrative tries to balance the intensity McNamara put into her research, the effect it had on her life, and reflections from her journal and other experiences. While this is interesting, it wasn’t quite what I’d expected. Some of the narration is really over the top, and almost seems forced rather than genuinely emotional.
However, this definitely is a nice departure from some of the more “blood and guts” type “forensics” shows. Nothing here to glorify except good old fashioned detective work and authorship.
4 out of 5 stars, worth watching. Good change of pace and style for the “true crime” genre, unique insight into research. True Crime nerds will enjoy the excerpts with Paul Holes.
Hey thanks for the info, I kinda suspected but it’s still sad to hear. imo (sorry if this is political) but if we care about child abuse this is the sort of stuff we have to start with, ‘cause so many of us can see exactly what’s happening. We don’t have to dig deeper for secret meanings or anything, there are dozens of child-abusing cults masquerading as sex-positive. Let’s crack down and prosecute these hundreds of sick, sick wackos then move on to more nebulous areas.
I don’t think you’re coming across as “partisan” or “political”. If anything, that’s part of the problem—- people are divided by politics or personal beliefs when the focus should simply be on “is this group abusing children?” People get so wrapped up in conspiracy theories that they end up blind to /actual/ literal conspiracies. Or calling out religious organizations for covering up child abuse can quickly deteriorate into a political argument. I’m not sure what the answer is, although one thing that would probably help is creating a statement of concrete rights for children. There are many, many legal forms of child abuse, and few ways for children to seek and access help. In general there’s still a belief in many cultures/religions that regard children as property, educating people otherwise would probably do a world of good. I think if more people were keen on the idea of children’s rights, both as professionals (such as actors/performers) and as actual people in general, that would open more opportunities to create better means of protection for them.
Btw—- it blows my mind people are starting to find out about The Family (COG) just now since they’ve existed for so long. If you’re interested in reading about the times they’ve been investigated, check out a fascinating and comprehensive website xfamily[dot]org. There were quite a few cases where children were taken by services, only to be returned—- partly because the children had lived in such strict, rigid environment, with intense brainwashing, that the investigators often couldn’t get them to tell what was happening (also because the children had been conditioned to believe that christians were under constant persecution, therefore that is why they thought the investigation was happening).
Sorry, kinda derailing here, but on behalf of my best friend, I always want to spread the word about TFI in hopes that one day, the current leader (whichever it is now) will be caught.
Excellent interviews. I’d been wanting to see this for a while. Anything that further exposes this disgusting, weird industry and its perversion of therapy/medical treatment is worth checking out, but in particular this is a good doc. I really liked the inclusion of clips from “For the Child’s Own Good” and “Children of Darkness” cut between interview segments, as well as some other footage I’d never seen before. Pretty wild to see footage of the weird rituals and protocols as the former inmates are describing it.
For anyone curious, Elan was a very controversial “boarding school” that also proclaimed to be a residential behavioral treatment center, prep school, an alternative to psychiatric treatment, and a general warehouse for “troubled teens”. It employed methods like encounter groups, physical, psychological and emotional manipulation, spanking, humiliation (including costumes) and an environment high on stress, devoid of privacy or personal space. They claimed to treat everything from depression to autism to pedophilia, took in runaways, depressed kids, pregnant teens, actual delinquents and kids that some parents just didn’t want.
For decades this place made its owners millions while the former residents were often left no better off than before they came, completely bewildered by what they’d experienced.
This is a fascinating look into a very dark and seldom discussed dusty corner of ‘alternative therapy’ and different approaches to ‘dealing with’ the various problems teenagers might face.
It’s ironic that you criticize the phrasing while butchering the spelling of your complaint. It’s “their” own language, not “there”.
…technically that would be a grammatical error rather than a spelling error though. (I hope you know I’m not being serious :P )
What a horrible story. The war on drugs has done basically nothing but make money for the government and ruin people’s lives. This woman should’ve never been in jail to begin with.
This was… disappointing. While “Open Secret” seemed like a true effort to expose this nasty side of Hollywood, “My Truth” appears to be Feldman grabbing at straws to stay in the news. I think the main thing that bothers me is that Haim’s mother begged him not to exploit her dead son’s memory (and trauma), yet he chose to anyway. And he chose to do it in a heavy handed, indelicate way that I don’t think most would do if they felt it was absolutely necessary to include. The way this film was promoted was also odd. I tried to not let that effect how I viewed the film, but it definitely is in there. Overall I’d say that while it’s about time someone started naming names and raising awareness in the name of protecting children, I don’t think Feldman is doing this simply out of concern for victims. Please don’t think I am calling him a liar, I definitely am not. However I think that “the truth” shouldn’t be presented in this “I sold horror stories to the Daily Mail” tabloid sort of way, seems insulting to the victims. It’s obvious Feldman is wrestling with his own issues after whatever happened to him, but he’s still in a Hollywood mindset whether he admits it or not.
Crazy what an “open secret” this stuff is. “Children of God” for instance still exist, dunno if any of them have been successfully prosecuted for child sex abuse, and they used children who grew up to be super famous like Joaquin “Leaf” Phoenix and Rose McGowan.
Only one minor leader in Scotland has been prosecuted. My best friend was born and raised in The Family International (Children of God), so we both follow it in the news even now. The Phoenixes and McGowans are lucky they got out when they did. The upper leadership, including the actual leaders and their subordinates, have never been prosecuted. It’s likely that “Mama Maria” (Karen Zerby) is dead and that “King Peter” is still around. Overall the communes and hardcore members/true believers are laying low, and TFI presents itself as a loose federation of international missionaries. TFI is mostly active in front organizations, fake charities and the like.
I finished this and didn’t really see what all the hype was about. The acting is decent, there’s some very beautiful shots…but the story is familiar and somewhat boring. The only ‘interesting’ point to bump up the plot is the fact that the main character takes an interest in an older man, and I’m unsure how this was supposed to be interpreted. While i doubt the commenter below actually watched the film, there are plenty of things that make this relationship seem creepy/inappropriate rather than…whatever the director was going for. Overall I found this one somewhat dull.
Wow, this was unexpectedly artistic and poetic (in a fever-dream sort of way). For those unfamiliar with the premise, it is based on a true story about one Armin Meiwes and his infamous meetup with a “willing victim” from a ~ cannibalism fetish website ~~. This is a very stylish retelling of that incident, but it’s quite different from what one might expect.
A far cry from tabloid cliches, the director chose to give this a much deeper, more emotional (and thus more twisted) treatment. The scenes are all shot with a type of intimate lighting that varies from soft to stark at all the right moments, illuminating our main character’s ever-fleeting emotions.
Frank, natural, somewhat romantic approach to scenes of gay sex might be off putting to some, but it’s no more graphic than any typical straight scene. However, these scenes are interesting because at first you might mistake them for a usual passionate weekend fling between two strangers who just seem to really “get” each other. After all, they both agreed upon the terms, they are both aroused by the premise, and both seek to fulfill an ultimate fantasy that is far stranger than anyone other than they would understand. Sex, though, is only one aspect of their interactions, and an oddly appropriate lead-in to what comes next.
While somewhat slow in pacing, the tension swells to a point where you barely felt it start to creep up before everything begins to spin. It’s a dreamy type of nightmare, with a lot of nuance given to perspectives on sex, death, fear, desire, dominance and submission, the beauty and frailty of life and what exceeds the boundaries of consent.
I also appreciated that director Dora chose to use a somewhat objective gaze for most of the film. That is, while you do get impressions from the perspective of both characters, there is no “silent narrator” from the camera. You’re not meant to sympathize with anyone specifically, yet each participant is humanized in a way that strikingly contrasts their apparent normalcy with the extremely bizarre— and meticulously planned — circumstances in which they met.
This is not your typical “crime film based on true events”, nor is it what you’d usually call a “horror movie”. Instead it’s an exploration of strangeness, comfort, dreams and sexuality, without downplaying any aspect of what such a particular event may have looked like. It’s an adventurous film, a feverish smashing together of the beautiful and the grotesque.
It’s a unique experience, bound to excite and disturb. (Well, you could say that about all Dora’s films, really)
It’s too bad there aren’t links for this, it’s a fantastic (and extremely frustrating) documentary.
Laura Albert managed to write several rather good, dark, twisted novels. For whatever reason, she felt the need to promote them as nonfiction, and created a living character (rather than just a pseudonym) to match. Somehow with a stand-in actor in a ridiculously obvious disguise, she managed to fool many people in the celebrity and literary world that JT Leroy actually existed, the books were based on various elements of his tragic, fvcked up life.
So this delves deeper into her own reasons why she did this. She reveals herself to be a deeply insecure woman with a bizarre fascination with little boys being abused by (specifically) gay men. (Just my opinion but mad pedo vibes here). Her lack of self-awareness and narcissism is astounding. You get the impression she feels she’s doing a great job and that now people will understand why she felt the need to act out this completely loony plot. Holy Borderline Personality Disorder, batman!
This film is a weird one, with lots of twists and turns. Seeing the author, contrasted with her alter-ego (performed by her friend) in action casts certain elements of her books in a different light entirely. There’s so many hilariously cringey, odd moments here, and plenty of insight into the detached, weird world of celebrities.
Hopefully links will show up (I’ll try), because how often do you see a film about a literary hoax?
This is one of my all-time favourite films, ever. Atmospheric and lyrical, we are lead down a very weird almost-fairytale story of a young gypsy boy with subtle telepathic abilities. These aren’t the main feature though, it’s understated, as there is much chaos in our young antihero’s life. From trying to help his sick sister, getting screwed over by his uncle, trying to get back home to the girl he loves, we are treated to many unusual and sometimes hilariously poetic moments. It’s a delightfully off-beat, kind of jangly, rambling story, but don’t let the length of the film put you off—- it isn’t slow and is never boring. The acting is very naturalistic and convincing, most especially from Davor Dujmovic (our main man Perhan).
It’s also, in some ways, a snapshot of Romani life on the outskirts of “somewhere in Sarajevo” in the late 80s (although of course there are many moments that are deliberately exaggerated for effect). Particularly lovely is Perhan’s charming grandmother who raised him, there’s some hilarious moments with his hopeful bride’s mother, and many times where you feel the confusion and pain that seems to strike his life hard. Perhan became such a beloved character that it became the nickname of the actor who played him.
If anyone is interested in seeing a movie that includes the Romani language, a beautiful soundtrack (which oscillates between bouncy, cheerful Balkan horns and Romani oros, and very ambient, emotional Balkan-inspired compositions) and very natural acting that never breaks even in surreal circumstances—- you will appreciate this. There certainly isn’t any other film quite like it.
Fans of Bora Todorovic will appreciate his portrayal of harsh, shady Uncle Ahmet, and people unfamiliar with this type of naturalistic acting (never seen in Hollywood films) might really get to like it.
I watch this film whenever I feel lonely, or when I miss my great-granny. It’s both realistic and surreal, in what I think is a perfect balance. One of Kusturica’s best works, and one of my favourite soundtracks from Goran Bregovic.
A 100 stars :)
It’s surely too bad there are no links (yet!) for this dizzying and hilariously gross little film. It’s not quite a ‘horror’ movie per se, but it delves in that direction, only to jerk you away into another dreamy, voyeuristic, profoundly weird situation. Repeatedly. At various points you cringe and laugh, others you’re wondering wtf just happened and if it were “real” or not. I don’t know what possessed someone to make this movie but I’m glad they did. It’s refreshingly bizarre, full of visceral imagery, and we’re treated to not one but two deeply, wonderfully disturbing performances by Vicente Cassel. A plethora of “WTF” and “no… really, what in the actual fvck, guys” moments abound, with excellent music and a unique setting in a disheveled, enormous French chateau.
Lots of bright, realistic and genuinely expressive acting going on here. Huge focus on intense facial expressions, tension and a pace that keeps you looking (even when you’re almost being pushed to look away, you’ll look through your hand).
This certainly isn’t a movie for everyone, but if you like your nightmares surreal and darkly humorous, you’ll “get it”. You’ll also never look at Cassel’s face the same way again.
I checked out a handful of episodes of this because a friend recommended it, on the basis that I tend to like “slice of life” stories about average people.
Firstly, I’ll say that the acting is rather good (for the most part), and there’s some little bits here and there that really are touching.
The main issue for me is that it’s so formulated—- it just feels like watching a combination of every romance/“story of a family” film. Or an extended “Hallmark Channel” movie. It all felt very predictable, but in all fairness I didn’t watch an entire season. Reminded me a lot of “7th Heaven”, so perhaps that’s why I found it less relatable than others.
Think this concept would’ve worked better with a more naturalistic style of acting, more average-looking, less “polished”-looking people. I know that’s not really a thing in American television, but I wish it were.
This type of story is hard to get into when you’re very, very aware you’re watching a tv show the entire time. Just didn’t really do it for me.
This is hilarious. I’m a huge fan of both Crispin Glover and Nic Cage, so I was stoked when my friend told me about this lost gem. It’s definitely dated, but in a really fun way. TV shows just aren’t made the same way anymore, and while that’s fine, it’s certainly entertaining to skip back to this nostalgic era. It’s also certainly cheesy, but again, in an endearing way, helped along with some pretty clever lines and decent performances from all the young actors. Worth checking out if you like silly 80s shows, it’s too bad it never got more episodes.
This is a very beautiful yet deeply sad film. A poignant exploration of the failings of the psychiatric system, most especially how people are led to believe medication will simply absolve mental illness or at least, render the person more tolerable without actually resolving their condition. This documentary is unique in that it’s actually based on a diary. The visual renderings representing her states of mind, thoughts, musings, and last days are truly beautiful. This appears to be a film made with great care, and respect for the subject—- something not often seen in a documentary regarding mental illness.
I wasn’t too keen on the idea that the subject simply needed to be drugged into submission or permanently leashed to a hospital. If anything, the film suggests that “there has to be a better way”. Because there is no reason that this person should have felt so alone. On the filp side, her life was in her own hands and she was drawn to free herself from it how she saw fit—as she had few (if any) other options.
It’s a melancholy, sad film without being syrupy, condescending or judgmental. I hope the subject found comfort somewhere beyond her corporeal existence, I really do.
Definitely recommend, for when you’re up for watching something poetic yet psychological.
Wow, I remember seeing this on TV years ago. If you want a nice, light-hearted and admittedly silly little documentary to watch on a rainy afternoon, this is a good choice. Go around the USA and see average people in ordinary little diners and shops talk about their ‘famous sandwiches’. It’s endearing, chill and not depressing—- sometimes hard to come by in the documentary genre.
Saw this band around this time, early 2000s, with Echo & The Bunnymen. Wonderful show, very energetic, good vibes all around. Can’t wait to check this one out
The links do not go to the correct film—- it’s some horror/suspense movie, not a documentary
This is such a unique short film. You’ve got a brain-melting atmosphere bolstered by a dizzying colour scheme. Excellent and smooth claymation, featuring unapologetically bizarre, expressive otherworldly characters. A creeping, crawling hellscape only comparable to the worst (or best?) fever dream imaginable, Bobby Yeah’s world is at once both claustrophobic and sprawling.
Absolutely watch this if you’re a fan of more traditional type animation (vs CGI pixar stuff) or if you’re interested in something a bit more… hallucinatory than your average cartoon.
I saw this in a theater as a double-feature, opening for The Matrix. Needless to say it was the best double-feature I’ve ever seen. Both completely blew my mind. The Matrix is, of course, a popular classic now. Dark City is an underground/cult classic. Both are easy 5/5.
Whoa, that’s awesome. The only thing that could be better is if you got to see it at a drive-in (or maybe I just really like those idk)