Post by criterionmaster on Dec 6, 2006 22:28:21 GMT -5
"You don't wanna hear my message. You spent fifty years evolving a propaganda system that'll take the truth and change it into what you wanna hear. You don't wanna hear shit that's gonna mean you might have to give up something. You don't want it. All you wanna do is sit on your fat, dividend-drawing ass and draw dividends."
I have just been seriously blown away. Called a “pseudo-documentary,” you can’t even tell where the lines of real messages and images differ from the fake. It is blended in possible the most realistic film I have ever seen, but at the same time being the best documentary I have ever seen, even if it isn’t a true documentary. It is so hard to explain. A news crew team follows a group of hippies who are let loose in what they call “Punishment Park,” as a form of punishment for going against the U.S. in one way or another; ignoring the draft, writing songs about going against the government, etc. While inter-cutting footage of a group of “hippies” getting interrogated and given their sentence for certain crimes.
So brilliantly inter-cut, maintaining my interest in both stories to the point where I am frustrated by them even going to the other story. So well performed that there is no way it isn’t actually happening. Don’t even get me started on the cinematography; it is just gritty and beautiful at the same times capturing so much. Some things this film showed were even horrific in their realism.
The film narrated by director Peter Watkins, who takes an objective view on the film, but changes his view in the film, and going back and forth. I have never seen a narration done in such a way. He also plays a part as the news crew, staying out of the things that happen, until it is unbearable and he has to step in. It was so realistic that I was scared for his safety when he asks some of the things he asks. Such as really battering an 18 year old kid who’s gun accidentally goes off. Asking him such things as “what are you going to say to their parents?” It was just gut wrenching.
Even after the film came out, America was scarred of the film, only being shown in theaters for 4 days until being banned from the US. You can see why when watching the film. Most of the time I found myself siding with the hippies, but even occasionally, I was on the other side of things. It was just really drawing me both ways, making me think more than most films do.
I would be blown away if this film was scripted, as I can’t see any acting happening in the film once so ever. I can’t even find one unrealistic thing about the film. It is still haunting me.
Never have I seen anything like this pulled of, and never would I have imagined something could be so perfectly done. Seriously there is not a single flaw in the whole film. This has left me thinking, I can’t get some of the things out of my head. While I agree that people who have so much and live with all these things, while others are dying of starvation, is a bad thing, I also believe that we cannot go about it in the ways these people did. And that the banning of the freedom of speech is definitely not a good thing. There could be a whole thread discussing these things.
I will go as bold as to say this is the most realistic film I have ever seen and also one of the most haunting and scary films. It opened my eyes so much. Deserving of much more respect than it gets. This should be used to teach; instead it is banned and edited. This deserves a spot on my list but it will take some time before I can truly find where. It’s a very tough decision. Disturbing.
Final Rating: 10
This film must be seen...
