World Cinema Classics Free on Youtube, Curated by Daniel Gauss: July 2014

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Z; Directed by Costa Gavras 1969

This is a film based on the assassination of an honest politician and opposition political candidate in Greece.

This is, really, an excellent film. It was not only nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film, but also for Best Film of the year.

The film details the corruption used to suppress an opposition political party that is against nuclear weapons and the use of Greece for American military bases. The film also explores the cover up of the assassination of the leader of this party.

I think this is a must-see film. "Z" becomes the symbol, by the way, for "He lives!"

Access the film here. When you click on this link, you'll see this film is part of a whole collection of films by one youtube poster. If you click the feature for a wide screen, you'll lose the small frame around the screen showing the film. Click on 'cc' the get English subtitles. The original film was in French.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC42DD1FD2A37D022

Friday, July 4, 2014

The Warriors; Directed by Walter Hill 1979

This film gives you an idea of what NY City looked like in the late 70s.

A street gang from Brooklyn goes to the Bronx for a meeting of city gangs. They are falsely accused of assassinating a gang leader and must escape back to Brooklyn while being chased by other gangs.

Access the movie here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCPwp8BBKUY

Salo; Directed by Pier Palo Pasolini 1975

When The Marquis de Sade was in the Bastille, he wrote a long novel called The 120 Days of Sodom. After the Bastille fell, the novel disappeared, only to be rediscovered in the 20th century.

I like much of Sade's work - he was brutally honest and explored various important themes in his works. He influenced Dostoyevsky and Kafka as well as the Surrealist school of artists and writers.

I've never been able to read the 120 Days of Sodom - it's a difficult book to read. Horrible and disgusting things are related in the book and I'm not entirely sure I understand why Sade wrote it.

Pasolini used this novel as a basis for his last film. Pasolini was brutally murdered shortly after the film was made.

After Mussolini was rescued by Hitler, Hitler re-established Mussolini in a part of Italy that was called Salo. In this film we see heartless and corrupt members of the fascist social elite indulge in various acts of cruelty, from which they derive immense (sexual) gratification.

This film was and is very controversial - it has lots of nudity and scenes of horrible violence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O5VvlYzJVg

Justine (based on the novel by the Marquis de Sade): directed by Jess Franco 1969

The Marquis de Sade influenced many significant writers. Justine was one of his more famous novels. Indeed, it is even referenced in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.

The Marquis de Sade seemed interested in exposing hypocrisy and in Justine he presents a world devoid of sincere kindness and humanity. Everyone seems driven by his/her own interests and lusts and the guiltiest folks seem to be from the Church. Sade seems to imply that the notion of disinterested altruism and humanity is a lie, indeed a profitable lie used to exploit and harm others.

My interpretation might be inaccurate, but if it is accurate, I would tend to disagree with Sade since I tend to believe that kindness and mercy can be possible and can transform the world.

Actually, a film was made about this debate - Marat/Sade. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJc4I6pivqg

This film - Justine - includes nudity.

Justine, directed by Jess Franco is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8WV0Wo7K-0