A Serbian Film

[jimmiel]

Just watched A Serbian Film (I know, I know, slowpoke.jpg) and was wondering what Eva fans thought of it.

I went in knowing everything, basically, and I was surprised as I watched that I could totally follow the director's statements that were on the Wikipedia page. Subtlety wasn't the film's strong suit, but the whole blurring of fake and real media, metafictional elements, ideas of responsibility and victimisation; there were some neat ideas the film screamed in your face.

I can't help but feel anyone who felt like they got their "soul raped" is kind of a wuss, but I can also understand why an emotionally weak person would be unable to see past the gross stuff and understand the not particularly subtle ideas and themes.

I wouldn't call the film a masterpiece, and, unintentional humour (unconvincing simulations, impossibly hilarious reaction shots) aside, the more confronting scenes were overblown. It was too much - not for my precious, frail little stomach to handle; I'm not a complete wimp. Rather, it just felt silly by the end.

Anyway, I found it a good film, kinda pretentious, quite over-the-top but an effective horror movie.

Thoughts?

[A.T. Fish]

Yeah, I just read the director's statements you alluded to after reading the plot of the movie on wikipedia and the guy sounded like a nut job. Calling someone who isn't willing to submit to this a wimp or too emotionally frail is rather cynical.

[jimmiel]

Oh, I don't buy everything he says, and, as I said, I definitely think he goes over the top. Regardless of how good or deep or whatever the film is or isn't, I was saying there are definitely real ideas in the film, and that ignoring that is doing the film - if not necessarily yourself - a disservice, that's all.

I'd like not to get too bogged down in this, though - have you seen the film and want to offer a thought or two? Or did the thread just catch your interest?

Also, what did you mean by "willing to submit to this"?

[Redtophat]

I bet Tom Six believes his films are artistic masterpieces as well, and that commoners can't see their brilliance.

[A.T. Fish]

Also, what did you mean by "willing to submit to this"?

I meant that no one should be belittled just because they won't submit themselves to the displeasure of watching this grotesque movie.

I haven't seen the film, I've heard about it and read the plot on wikipedia as stated, that was enough to make me hate it.

[jimmiel]

I meant that no one should be belittled just because they won't submit themselves to the displeasure of watching this grotesque movie.

Oh, of course not. But if someone watched the whole thing, and then claimed it was literally nothing but pointless depravity I'd have to question their ability to critically analyse film. There's not much there to get, and it's not subtle; they'd have to be actively closing their mind to avoid it. That's all I'm saying.

I bet Tom Six believes his films are artistic masterpieces as well, and that commoners can't see their brilliance.

I haven't seen any of his work, but I get the impression his stuff is more straight horror than insane political allegory. I wouldn't judge without watching, though.

Subject matter doesn't necessarily dictate quality, though. Hell, I'm sure there are people who believe no anime could be good because they're just cartoons. I know a few who think that to a degree.

[Mr. Tines]

The synopsis suggests that the perpetrator should be taken around the back of the barn and put out of our misery.

[Atropos]

My objection is on behalf of the child actors involved. And this is from a guy whose favorite film is Welcome to the Dollhouse.

[jimmiel]

But he

SPOILER: Show

did that himself with guilt and disgust over everything that happened

. I thought you read the synopsis.
Atropos: Well, few if any have claimed the film isn't exploitative. Got nothing on Milo and Otis, though.

[Dream]

Oh man, that movie.

Yeah, i've read a bit about it and the synopsis, was pretty sickened by it and pretty certain i'm never going to watch. I'm not going to disagree with you in that this movie can certainly have some themes in it, or that subject matter doesn't dictate quality, but i would have to say that the author is simply going to have to accept that such crudeness and grotesquery is going to turn a lot of people off and obscure the intent or expression with it's bloody white noise to a degree. Also, what do you mean with

SPOILER: Show

"But he did that himself with guilt and disgust over everything that happened"?

The synopsis suggests that the perpetrator should be taken around the back of the barn and put out of our misery.

Out of curiosity, do you refer to the character or the director?

[Mr. Tines]

Srđan Spasojević (at least).

[jimmiel]

Oh... I assumed you meant the character, since he raped several people including his own son, which would merit his being put down (like a rabid dog if nothing else). I didn't realise you were being hyperbolic and referring to the director because he made a film that people found disturbing. My bad.

Anyway, thanks, Dream - your reasonableness and non-judgemental approach is refreshing and I can totally sympathise.

[Dream]

Srđan Spasojević (at least).

Two minutes in wikipedia tell me he's the director. If that's the case, i can't say i agree but i can certainly sympathize, and in fact i also felt a strong desire of anger or indignity throughout most of the day. But also, i do feel a bit uncertain about censoring things like these since, even while they are sick, i can't think of a solid reason for why we should take away this director's right to express himself, even if we might disagree with what he says or make us puke. Plus he doesn't condone what he presents in the movie and tries to give an artistic importance so there's that too.

Oh... I assumed you meant the character, since he raped several people including his own son, which would merit his being put down (like a rabid dog if nothing else). I didn't realise you were being hyperbolic and referring to the director because he made a film that people found disturbing. My bad.

I only read the synopsis but

SPOILER: Show

Isn't the guy something like drugged? Even then, from the sounds of it he wasn't aware he was raping his wife and children with a buddy. Also, the ending is pretty bizarre and seems kinda random to me, even considering everything the character have just gone through by that point

And you're welcome on the non-judgemental approach. I used to read about Sade and had an interest in him, plus i used to check out or read about gross or shocking things like these some years ago. And really, this probably isn't as bad as some of Sade's novels, even when they are pretty close.

[jimmiel]

Well, could merit. Less that he should be punished, more that all their lives were ruined and lack of rational culpability wouldn't erase the guilt and disgust and such.

[MassiveInvader]

Phelous's Review of A Serbian Film basically explains how I feel about the movie.

[Atropos]

Wonder how many folks in this thread have actually seen the flick. (Full disclosure, I'm not among them.)

[Elect G-Max]

I've seen it.

It reminded me of Cronenberg's Videodrome. The only difference was that the porn was slightly more hardcore and messed-up, and the dialog was in Serbian.

[Dream]

Wonder how many folks in this thread have actually seen the flick. (Full disclosure, I'm not among them.)

I think only OP did. I admit i feel rather bad about speaking of a film i haven't watched... But there's no way i'm watching that.

[GasmaskAvenger]

saw it last year and wasn't particularly impressed. same goes with The Human Centipede II, which was a rather inferior follow-up to the rather okay original.

both films seem to me as a ridiculous foreign game of cinematic oneupsmanship as a challenge to make movies even more decadent than the Saw and Hostel movies, but all of them just come off as being really silly and feeling like really, really dark Itchy and Scratchy movies made for the sake of making the weak stomached throw up but lack pathos and a sense of true malevolence.


Overall, I thought Serbian Film was...okay at most and actually had some above adequate acting and a decent plot but was ruined by trying to act like some film embodiment of a /b/tard who posts shock images for shits and giggles.

[Yaywalter]

I liked it.