Antichrist is a 2009 Danish art film written and directed by Lars von Trier, starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg.[5][6][7] It follows horror film conventions and tells the story of a couple who, after the death of their child, retreat to a cabin in the woods where the man experiences strange visions and the woman manifests increasingly violent sexual behaviour. The narrative is divided into a prologue, four chapters and an epilogue.
I watched it, then the following night I re watched it. I'll watch it again before the week is out.
It was mesmerizing. Particularly the cinema photography in the forest and the opening scene played out in slow motion to Handel's Rinaldo. Von Trier touched on some taboo subjects and managed to communicate a deep sense of evil in nature (or woman?) without gore or any of the lame tropes used by Hollywood directors. The friction between the rational nature of man and the more emotional, instinct driven woman maintains the tension.
And yes, the tree did seem to have a personality of its own.
_________________ “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” - - George Orwell
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
To analyse this film can be overwhelming as there as so many influences and references it draws upon. I chose the Christianity and the psychoanalysis aspects. You may choose differently.
Even the most benign elements in this film become sinister, the woods, the trees and beauty becomes hideousness. The tree is a significant symbol as it is there she asks him to hit her, it is there she physically convinces him to dominate her for being a woman, to punish her for being evil. i.e. men - good, nature - evil, women - naturally evil. The sex scenes were not simulated, which also adds to the impact of this film.
Do you recall when she says, "women do not control their own bodies, nature does. There is the implication of men being polluted by women's menstrual blood, perhaps tied in with the depiction of Freud's castration complex, demonstrated when she masturbates him to revive him until he ejaculates blood.
What is interesting is that excessive displays of sexuality in women are viewed as a disease or found to be abhorrent. Sometimes in grief or stress, men and women both use excessive sex to alleviate what they cannot control.
"You don't have to understand me, just trust me"........... The husband, I thought displayed a patriarchal attitude towards her and it comes out more and more. One could say her descent into insanity was caused by his incessant analysing of her.
The child jumps to his death at the very moment of their sexual climax. She, the wife, prioritizes her pleasure over her own child. This film comes full circle as he, the husband strangles her.
"A crying woman is a scheming woman".
I have always believed this and that is what this woman is.
It appears on the surface to be simple, but I found this film complex. What I found to be rather ridiculous is the army of women marching through the forest at the end.
My opinion has not changed, I think this movie is "fucked up", perhaps because I am woman and do not think we are naturally evil.
What say you Recidivist?
Satyr Daemon
Gender : Posts : 37196 Join date : 2009-08-24 Age : 58 Location : Hyperborea
Woman is the personification of nature. She is towards chaos, because entropy is increasing. Man, the masculine element, is what tries to tame nature, or direct her, use her. The male is reason, the spiritual element.
With balance the earthly feminine is dominated but not denied, rejected, hated, by the masculine element. This begins as an internal struggle. The truly masculine man is the one who has dominated the feminine in himself.
Without balance the feminine runs wild (decadence), or, in the other extreme, the masculine denounces the feminine (nihilism).
_________________ γνῶθι σεαυτόν μηδέν άγαν
Recidivist
Gender : Posts : 435 Join date : 2012-04-30 Age : 48 Location : Exile
"You don't have to understand me, just trust me"........... The husband, I thought displayed a patriarchal attitude towards her and it comes out more and more. One could say her descent into insanity was caused by his incessant analysing of her.
I knew that line in the film was coming when she says, "you just can't be happy for me can you?", because it has probably been said countless times to men by women over the ages.
I found the husbands attitude to be rationally level headed, although he did appear to be a one dimensional character, merely responding to events rather than directing them, but perhaps this was partly the result of him playing the role of her liberal, feminized therapist.
If he'd have been more masculine to start with, much of the story would have been different. Instead of tip toeing around her feelings and trying to appease her he should have given her a few slaps at the beginning and told her to pull herself together, then they could have got on and had another child. It's fascinating that she got hit anyway, but only because this time she asked him to do it and he was losing control over the situation. I think that point was brilliant, because liberals complain about violence against women, not realizing much of the time that it's the woman that subconsciously instigates it... secretly desires it?
She destroyed her self in the end. Isn't that the fate of women when they turn inwards?
I also like the suggestion that "Nature is Satan's church" because it ties in with my interest in gnosticism. That she percieved nature as being carefree and good in the first place indicates a certain level of childish niavete, particularly ironic considering she was (subconsciously?) torturing her own child. But don't women cry because they are weak, like children, and children can be cruel and capricious, like women?
_________________ “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” - - George Orwell
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
But don't women cry because they are weak, like children, and children can be cruel and capricious, like women?
No
Perhaps you have seen also Lars von Trier's, Melancholia. It is a sublimely beautiful film that begins with a ten minute sequence to the strains of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. Kirsten Dunst was the lead actor and again he used Charlotte Gainsbourg in this film. His films have a distinct style and from my own perspective, I think this is the best one of the two, Antichrist/Melancholia.
Some may argue, the first ten minutes of this film, are its best.
Almost every film of Aki Kaurismaki is a masterpiece and full of pathos and dark humour... no one captured the Nihilism of the communist climate as sincerely as him...
_________________
"ἐδιζησάμην ἐμεωυτόν." [Heraclitus]
"All that exists is just and unjust and equally justified in both." [Aeschylus, Prometheus]
"The history of everyday is constituted by our habits. ... How have you lived today?" [N.]
*Become clean, my friends.*
Lyssa Har Har Harr
Gender : Posts : 8965 Join date : 2012-03-01 Location : The Cockpit
This is an old british tv series from 1990. I was reminded of it when I heard about the recent American remake. I think it's relevant here in that the main character, Urquhart, is a sort of Lecter-esque manipulator and people-reader. But in this case I think Urquhart has a different focus and a definite end-goal in society in mind, with which his insights into humanity are tools for his own ambition. Whereas Lecter is more private and reclusive.
_________________ "I do not exhort you to work but to battle; I do not exhort you to peace but to victory. May your work be a battle; may your peace be a victory." -TSZ
This is an old british tv series from 1990. I was reminded of it when I heard about the recent American remake. I think it's relevant here in that the main character, Urquhart, is a sort of Lecter-esque manipulator and people-reader. But in this case I think Urquhart has a different focus and a definite end-goal in society in mind, with which his insights into humanity are tools for his own ambition. Whereas Lecter is more private and reclusive.
Yes apaosha!
This is one of the best shows I have every watched. I think I have seen it three times now. It consists of three series and is available on netflix in its entirety. Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart is the last of a fading type of true Conservative man in the UK political establishment. The show explores modern decadence and the ruthless manipulation of those willing to be successful in attaining and maintaining power through a character which many KTS members will no doubt become very fond of. A real classic.
^^ Needless to say the Americanized version, complete with celebrity cast and huge budget, it a visually tantalizing but soulless and hollow imitation. Appears empty and overblown in comparison with the subtle humour and relevant metaphysics of the original.
reasonvemotion
Gender : Posts : 681 Join date : 2013-01-09 Location : The Female Spirit
The only person Francis Urquhart, Chief Whip, indeed, seemed vulnerable with was his wife! She knew exactly how to play him. Francis was ruthless. Who in their right mind would go after a career in politics, unless you had a death wish. In fact it was perfectly cast for each character.
A short peek and I had no desire to follow the American take on it, almost like watching a Japanese version of Gone with the Wind.
_________________ 1. "Youth, oh, youth! | of whom then, youth, art thou born? Say whose son thou art, Who in Fafnir's blood | thy bright blade reddened, And struck thy sword to my heart."
2. "The Noble Hart | my name, and I go A motherless man abroad; Father I had not, | as others have, And lonely ever I live."
Recidivist
Gender : Posts : 435 Join date : 2012-04-30 Age : 48 Location : Exile
Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself and ultimately finds herself through love and loss.
No there's a fucking anime that's nothing like the book, but mabey even better. There's a legacy to live up to. Shitting on it gets on my nerves. I would like a funny bad movie called Fifty Shades of Grey.
No there's a fucking anime that's nothing like the book, but mabey even better. There's a legacy to live up to. Shitting on it gets on my nerves. I would like a funny bad movie called Fifty Shades of Grey.