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Author Topic: A Serbian Film  (Read 3121 times)

filmincarnate

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Re: A Serbian Film
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2011, 10:52:56 PM »
I think it warrants a viewing, if only to see it for yourself and make up your mind. Those who refuse to watch it based solely on it's reputation are no worse than those that will view it only for that purpose. Watch it for what it is and appreciate it as such, if you can.

I am highly disturbed just reading the synopsis and have absolutely no desire to watch depictions of children and even babies being raped. I can’t imagine any context where I would find such scenes palatable. I have a line of what I personally find acceptable and this crosses it – and goes along way over it. Do I really need to see it to make up my own mind? Can't I make up my mind from the graphic reviews that detail the above scenes?



No, I don't think you can, personally. Reading about something and seeing it are two entirely different things. That's no different than saying that because you read a great review of a film you don't need to see it because you already know it will be great. If we could simply read a synopsis of a film and have that make up our minds for us than what would be the point in viewing anything?

Film is a visual medium, it demands viewing. And, better yet, it is in a position to challenge us. To show us things that we don't necessarily want to see. Why does everything that we view have to be pleasing? Did I enjoy watching A SERBIAN FILM? Hell no, but I'm entirely happy with having seen it as I was able to make up my mind on my own and did not rely on the written word of others. You are an individual, act accordingly.

And, for the record, you do not see a baby being raped. It is more so implied than anything. You do see before and after, but you mainly see the reactions of the character that is watching this happen, which is more effective than anything else in the film. It is the mere knowledge of what is happening that is so disturbing, if they had explicitly shown the act than it would have come off as nothing but shock tactics. Again, this is something you'd see first hand if you watched the damn thing and didn't let someone else make up your mind for you.

zummy

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Re: A Serbian Film
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2011, 01:12:47 AM »
I think it warrants a viewing, if only to see it for yourself and make up your mind. Those who refuse to watch it based solely on it's reputation are no worse than those that will view it only for that purpose. Watch it for what it is and appreciate it as such, if you can.

I am highly disturbed just reading the synopsis and have absolutely no desire to watch depictions of children and even babies being raped. I can’t imagine any context where I would find such scenes palatable. I have a line of what I personally find acceptable and this crosses it – and goes along way over it. Do I really need to see it to make up my own mind? Can't I make up my mind from the graphic reviews that detail the above scenes?



No, I don't think you can, personally. Reading about something and seeing it are two entirely different things. That's no different than saying that because you read a great review of a film you don't need to see it because you already know it will be great. If we could simply read a synopsis of a film and have that make up our minds for us than what would be the point in viewing anything?

Film is a visual medium, it demands viewing. And, better yet, it is in a position to challenge us. To show us things that we don't necessarily want to see. Why does everything that we view have to be pleasing? Did I enjoy watching A SERBIAN FILM? Hell no, but I'm entirely happy with having seen it as I was able to make up my mind on my own and did not rely on the written word of others. You are an individual, act accordingly.

And, for the record, you do not see a baby being raped. It is more so implied than anything. You do see before and after, but you mainly see the reactions of the character that is watching this happen, which is more effective than anything else in the film. It is the mere knowledge of what is happening that is so disturbing, if they had explicitly shown the act than it would have come off as nothing but shock tactics. Again, this is something you'd see first hand if you watched the damn thing and didn't let someone else make up your mind for you.

I didn’t say everything we watch has to be pleasing. I saw Salo at the cinema, not to be pleased – but as you say, to be challenged and to judge for myself. I knew what I was going to see, so I was prepared – and consequently was not particularly shocked. Same goes for Anti-Christ (though I did cover my eyes during some of those scenes). But as I have stated already, I have my standards. Baby rape crosses the line. I’ve been warned it’s in there and I don’t want to see it.

I understand your point, I cannot judge a film unless I have seen it. Fair enough. I’m not so much judging it as saying I have no desire to suffer through it. I think enough has been said about the film for me to formulate an opinion on wether or not the film is worth my while. Maybe I am depriving myself of a great intellectual challenge. If so, that’s fine with me. The world is full of challenges. I don’t have to accept them all. I pick and choose what suits me based on my tastes and my desires.

But thanks for your comments. it is interesting to hear from somebody who has watched the film and who is willing to defend it.

filmincarnate

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Re: A Serbian Film
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2011, 07:48:12 AM »
I think it really warrants defending. It is not a great film and is not something I have any desire to see again, but it is getting attention for all of the wrong reasons. Did people hype up Schindler's List because there were fully nude people being mass murdered? Of course not. I'm certainly not trying to compare A Serbian Film to that as they're entirely different, but you can probably see what I'm getting it. I personally found all of the film's "extreme" material to be necessary. I can't imagine it being effective at all without it there, it just never felt gratuitous to me and a lot of the press surrounding it makes it seem that way. It just lumps it into the same category as The Human Centipede or Hostel-esque torture porn, which it is far from. Truth be told, it is more of a drama than anything. Any scenes of violence or graphic sexual content are spaced pretty far apart, so anyone watching it for "kicks" is more than likely going to be pretty bored early on.

Also, while on the subject, the other title to come out of Serbia last year that got some attention, Life and Death of a Porno Gang, is a vastly superior film to this one in my opinion. It is also quite graphic but it is actually fun and enjoyable to watch. It basically plays very similar to Lars von Trier's The Idiots but with the added element of it being about snuff rather than actors pretending to be mentally chalenged.

Thanks for your reply, zummy.