The Possibility of Hope

Trawling Youtube for videos of Slavoj Žižek has led me into deep voids this week. It began with Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón's film about a dystopian world in which no one has had a baby for eighteen years. What affected me most about this film was the resemblance this chaotic and desperate society has to our own world. Institutions, workplaces, cafes and transport, all are amplifications of the ugliest parts of our civilisation.

Following my viewing of Children of Men, I watched Cuarón's accompanying documentary The Possibility of Hope. A kind of Inconvenient Truth without the moralising, the doco is a series of interviews which address the sociological issues which are evident or will emerge from global warming and capitalism. It is a truly interesting half hour piece and you can watch it all on YouTube (I've linked Part 1/3 below).

It also reminded me of another film available to watch for free online called HOME. If you have 93 minutes and high speed internet, you should spend it watching this.

The Pervert's Guide to Cinema

In The Pervert's Guide to Cinema, Slavoj Žižek navigates the desires which are implicit in our cinema. His discussion propels films by Hitchcock, Tarkovsky and Lynch into the territory of Freud and Lacan, but with the charm of this Slovenian philosopher who believes "the first duty of philosophy is making you understand what deep s--- you are in!". This documentary is essential viewing. I've linked one of my favourite parts below.



Thank you Archer Davies and Nat Koyama for sharing this with me.

Watch Cannes Films for free!

Mubi and Cannes Critcs Week have gotten together and arranged the free streaming of a collection of films from the past 50 years of Cannes. They're only free for the first 1000 views before June 30, so get on it! Wonderful, sweet Sunday ahead.

La Semaine de la Critique on Mubi

Meek's Cutoff

This film looks grand



ACMI in Melbourne is currently showing a whole bunch of director Kelly Reichardt's films. Get some tickets here.