Difficult Issues to Demonstrate in Film
Or issues so internal or different that any portrayal in film would look ridiculous.
shareWhat do you mean?
share
MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Difficult Issues to Demonstrate in Film
Dreams. I can't think of any dream sequence I've seen that captured what dreaming is like.
shareRoman Polanski does a pretty good job of capturing the dream vibe in Rosemary's Baby. David Lynch too
shareOkay, the dream sequence in Rosemary's Baby really was very dreamlike. I've deliberately avoided anything by Lynch, so can't comment on that, but will take your word for it.
shareI'm interested to know why you've avoided Lynch?
shareIt started with Blue Velvet. The people I knew who loved it, and Lynch, were too dark, angsty, emotionally messed up, and ... well, no other way to put it, but IMO intellectually pretentious. I suppose now they'd be called edgelords. Meh, not interesting to me.
Similar to, although slightly different from, the people I knew who felt the same about Tarantino.
There's all sorts of people who like Lynch. Not just the fucked up ones. This shouldn't deter you from at least checking his stuff out.
shareOh, I don't doubt that. It's that at the time everyone I knew who loved Blue Velvet and Lynch were like that. But I already know he's not a director I'm going to enjoy. I've seen clips.
shareThe Wizard of Oz
shareNot dreamlike, too linear. Dreams rarely have a beginning, middle and end.
They're like: So we were at your house, although it looked nothing like your house. You were there, but the person didn't look at all like you. Then suddenly I was in a room where a bunch of people I didn't know who were blowing up balloons, and in the corner there was a cheese grater with a bow tie.
Has any1 seen "Images" (Robert Altman)?
I haven't, but "Nashville" and "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" are favorites of mine.
I bloody hate dream sequences, which is probably why I've never really been able to get fully onboard with the vast majority of David Lynch films.
shareDo you dislike the concept of using dream sequences, or just haven't seen any you think were well done?
I've avoided seeing any Lynch. Not my cup o' tea.
Honestly, I think it's the concept. I find most dream sequences self-indulgent, and frustrating, especially when they're a misdirection and we're initially meant to think they're part of the actual narrative. They tend to hold the story up instead of driving the narrative forward, but to be fair it depends on the dream sequence. La La Land ends with what I suppose is akin to a dream sequence and it's absolutely glorious, the best scene in the film in fact, since it captures the main characters' sense of regret of 'what could have been'. Also, a truly creative and visionary filmmaker can occasionally use a dream sequence to show us something we've never seen before on film.
shareOh yes, I'm not fond of them being used as misdirection. That probably worked the first time, and that's it.
Haven't seen La La Land yet. Whenever I do, I'll pay special attention to the "dream sequence."
Gender and sexual identity are very difficult to portray on film without sensationalizing or totally botching it. Some have done it very well, but it's sure a hell of a lot easier to portray a car chase or an inspirational pep-talk than a mature, adult, gay relationship.
shareYou must have heard how Scarlet Johannsen lost her chance at playing a famous transsexual recently. I think she was supposed to mostly represent what kind of a woman the man became in his changeover. Sadly, the Transsexual Community was not happy that they weren't using an actual trans actor, so she lost the role.
shareYou must hate it when a wheelchair-bound actor is cast to play a wheelchair-bound character.
I mean seriously, aren't there able-bodied actors who need work TOO? Can't let the wheelies get all the good roles!
Of course, you're one of those few users who actually might not get this sarcasm. There's probably a lot you don't get, come to think of it....
internal turmoil w/ ambiguous mental instability
shareThe Social Network.
sharePedophilia. it is a {ahem!} touchy subject and it is difficult to portray in a movie without seeming exploitative.
shareThe Woodsman came close to doing a good job, and I think both filmed versions of Lolita are a lot more thoughtful and sensitive than the sensationalism that surrounds them might suggest.
Clearly child molestation is sickening, but I think a mature society also needs to grapple with the sad reality concerning the sexuality of some people. These people need to be treated, if only to make children safer. And film is one way of addressing the topic in a mature and sophisticated manner.
I haven’t seen the Woodsman but I thought Lamb did a good job at this, and was also a pretty good movie. Also Fish Tank but that would probably be considered statutory rape more so than pedophilia. Sleepers or any documentary on Catholic Priests.
shareSleepers and, even better, Spotlight, are great movies dealing with the sickening abuse of children but I don't think they necessarily grapple with the subject of paedophilia per se (many child abusers, even those that sexually abuse children, are not paedophiles per se, but simply sexual opportunists who prey on the most vulnerable, and, clearly, children are among the most vulnerable).
What I'm interested in are films that deal with the thorny issue of people who actually have these disturbing desires. Just to be 100% clear, I am not one of them. But I do have OCD and Anxiety, and so I know what it is like to suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts, albeit ones that are nowhere near as disturbing or potentially dangerous as sexual feelings towards children.
I'm not saying I necessarily sympathise with these people, but not all of them are actively abusing children, either physically or online. Some are struggling to control their, admittedly sick (in the mental illness sense), desires, and I think these people deserve some consideration.
I always thought any adults that sexually abuse children were considered pedophiles. I’m still not sure I understand the difference. The topic is pretty taboo and I’m assuming one that many are uninformed on.
That being said, I think it takes a lot of honesty and courage for you to show compassion towards this disorder as a mental illness, rather than the “lock them up and throw away the key” response most have towards pedophilia.
One movie I can think of that covers this illness more from the pedophiles perspective is “Little Children”. It’s an excellent movie and addresses the struggle and shame that goes with this sickness, as well as the judgement and ridicule he receives from others.
I agree with you about Little Children.
As for the distinction between 'paedophiles' and 'child molesters', my understanding is that the former refers to a medical/psychological condition where an adult feels sexual attraction to children. However, it should be noted, not all people with this distressing condition act on this predilection.
Also, not all 'child molesters' are 'paedophiles', although many are. Not everyone who sexually abuses children is necessarily attracted to children. Some of them are simply sexual predators who target children because they make easier/more vulnerable victims, or they are in close proximity to children (i.e. maybe they're a family member or step-parent) and are able to build a secret trust with that child that they are prepared to exploit.
Like I said before, I'm not trying to defend paedophiles per se, but I do think it stands to reason that some of them may be trying to control their instincts and have sought help, for which I believe they deserve our support. In contrast, there are some non-paedophiles who are simply scummy people who abuse children simply because it's easy.
You know what's almost impossible to demonstrate in film?
Murder mysteries! Yes, the entire genre of books, of which I'm so fond.
Mysteries just don't work as movies. I think it's because movies just don't have the time to give all the details necessary for a good mystery story, in two hours (more or less) you just can't develop the relationship between the victim and all of the suspects, and leave time for an exciting fight at the finale. Plus... so much of a murder mystery is backstory, and you just can't have >50% of a movie be flashbacks! Or people talking about the past.
Thats only true because books are always better :)
That's not true 100% of the time, there's "Jaws" and "Game of Thrones"! So it's only true... 99.99999% of the time.
And it's possible that my point about murder mysteries not working on screen is related to the different level of detail in books and films, well, the "Game of Thrones" books started to suck as they went along because there was too MUCH detail. The author lost the plot, and just recorded every tiny little thing the characters did. Since you can't put that much detail on a TV show, you have to keep the plot moving, the TV show is better than the books.
ah , Tolkein syndrome ....
sharePill addiction.. I never even hear of these movies, but there are SO many on heroin.. I think its the ritual - especially the needle.
shareYeah I was thinking drugs. I can think of some pretty realistic heroin movies, Animals being one, but what about hallucinogenics? That’s a little trickier I think. Fear and Loathing did an amazing job at this. I thought no way they can turn that kindof drug induced chaos into a movie, but I think it’s one of the best book adaptations of all time.
shareLSD would be tough. I've done it dozens of times!
I might check the movie out again. I saw it before I had ever tripped.