Really enjoyed this, Evgenia. My husband and I inexplicably decided to watch a slew of Cronenberg’s early works when I was 6-ish months pregnant last year. Now it makes me think something subliminal was going on. The Brood in particular stood out at the time.
Also share your reservations around pre-natal sentimentality. I think a lot about how, 100 years ago, or even less, I likely would’ve died in childbirth, given our breech baby’s enormous head and her decision to cannonball out ass-first. But it is, despite those misgivings, pretty psychedelic. And fun.
I’m looking forward to more of your thoughts up to and after the birth! All the best to everyone!
I agree about the sentimentalism in the American mainstream (mainly white, middle class) surrounding birth--perhaps calling it in its cultural expressions as "kitsch." The Nazis had similarly strange attitudes about it as well, even took some cues from the US via the eugenics of a settler state.
On the other hand, generally decimated families do look at impending births joyfully, sincerely so, for obvious reasons, that's where some of the joy comes from. But to poor families in the United States, it's not viewed that way but unfortunately as an economic burden thanks to the hard luck qualities of the society.
I've followed David Cronenberg's films now for forty years, and in that time, I came to realize that he's just as much a philosopher as a filmmaker, he's a very important humanist thinker. You can only deal the way he has with the issues of our common era through some kind of mediated genre like science fiction, but he has shed a lot of that over the last three decades. Society has moved forward a little--perhaps thanks in-part to him, perhaps a little--since Shivers dropped in 1974, now over a full human generation ago.
The article here is excellent, very thought-provoking. I should add that Cronenberg has stated in the past that sex has become unchained from reproduction, that it has become something else. Some of his comments regarding these issues are pretty old and I'd like to know how he feels about some of them today. I doubt many of his positions have changed, yet I have to assume the humanist core is still very much intact. I disagree that the eradication of religion is going to make the world better, however, but that's another issue.
Awesome! Love this. I'm a huge Cronenberg fan, he and Michael Haneke are my two favoritenon mainstream directors, Verhoeven up there too. Check out his son's film "Possessor" - it was damn good and maybe even better than many of his dad's.
Possessor is astounding and breaks a lot of new ground. What makes us us? How much agency do we really possess? He's asking some PKD questions there, but from some very interesting angles.
Yeah I really appreciated how the story and direction were able to push some of the more unbelievable aspects of the plot to the background as well as get away with whatever that low budget steampunk aesthetic they used for the technology. Very Cronenberg-esque. Like ExistenZ.
Well put. I do get a VERY different emotional feeling from his son's movies, so far. Antiviral is exceptional as well. Hoping the score to that hits vinyl at some point.
Just looked it up. Had no idea Branden (Braden?) had done a movie prior to Possessor. In fact Possessor was sold to me as though it was his debut. Interesting.
Wow -- that is well written. Do I now need to watch all these movies?
Yes, they're great, and have a lot to teach about the human condition.
Really enjoyed this, Evgenia. My husband and I inexplicably decided to watch a slew of Cronenberg’s early works when I was 6-ish months pregnant last year. Now it makes me think something subliminal was going on. The Brood in particular stood out at the time.
Also share your reservations around pre-natal sentimentality. I think a lot about how, 100 years ago, or even less, I likely would’ve died in childbirth, given our breech baby’s enormous head and her decision to cannonball out ass-first. But it is, despite those misgivings, pretty psychedelic. And fun.
I’m looking forward to more of your thoughts up to and after the birth! All the best to everyone!
Thank you and congrats on your baby! I guess women now can afford sentimentality because the death rate from birth is so low.
In Indiana, the death rate is curiously high...
I agree about the sentimentalism in the American mainstream (mainly white, middle class) surrounding birth--perhaps calling it in its cultural expressions as "kitsch." The Nazis had similarly strange attitudes about it as well, even took some cues from the US via the eugenics of a settler state.
On the other hand, generally decimated families do look at impending births joyfully, sincerely so, for obvious reasons, that's where some of the joy comes from. But to poor families in the United States, it's not viewed that way but unfortunately as an economic burden thanks to the hard luck qualities of the society.
I've followed David Cronenberg's films now for forty years, and in that time, I came to realize that he's just as much a philosopher as a filmmaker, he's a very important humanist thinker. You can only deal the way he has with the issues of our common era through some kind of mediated genre like science fiction, but he has shed a lot of that over the last three decades. Society has moved forward a little--perhaps thanks in-part to him, perhaps a little--since Shivers dropped in 1974, now over a full human generation ago.
The article here is excellent, very thought-provoking. I should add that Cronenberg has stated in the past that sex has become unchained from reproduction, that it has become something else. Some of his comments regarding these issues are pretty old and I'd like to know how he feels about some of them today. I doubt many of his positions have changed, yet I have to assume the humanist core is still very much intact. I disagree that the eradication of religion is going to make the world better, however, but that's another issue.
I guess cinema/philosophy connection seems surprising in Hollywood where average filmmaker is a literal idiot with some visual skills at best
Zack Snyder. ;0)
You're singing my song. ;0)
On the pre determined date
In this case
Before the court of ultimate awareness
The good thing for the accused
As the judge pounds the gavel
When the eviction judgement
Is finally served
There will be two loving souls
More than willing
To open their hearts and home
Giving love and gratitude
Beyond measure
Providing freely for the needs
Sweet multi faceted treasure
May you be healthy
May you be happy
May you be free from suffering
✌🏼❤️🙏g
May you be at peace
Awesome! Love this. I'm a huge Cronenberg fan, he and Michael Haneke are my two favoritenon mainstream directors, Verhoeven up there too. Check out his son's film "Possessor" - it was damn good and maybe even better than many of his dad's.
Possessor is astounding and breaks a lot of new ground. What makes us us? How much agency do we really possess? He's asking some PKD questions there, but from some very interesting angles.
Yeah I really appreciated how the story and direction were able to push some of the more unbelievable aspects of the plot to the background as well as get away with whatever that low budget steampunk aesthetic they used for the technology. Very Cronenberg-esque. Like ExistenZ.
Well put. I do get a VERY different emotional feeling from his son's movies, so far. Antiviral is exceptional as well. Hoping the score to that hits vinyl at some point.
Just looked it up. Had no idea Branden (Braden?) had done a movie prior to Possessor. In fact Possessor was sold to me as though it was his debut. Interesting.
Is Antiviral one of those "you'd like if you liked____"? If so thanks for the recommendation, I've never heard of it.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/possessor_uncut
haha.
Agree!
lol if you read past the 3rd paragraph and thought it was Yasha...