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Films for Shocking Cinema

I have been teaching shocking cinema for a number of years and intend to continue with the topic of 'emotional response' in the new syllabus.  I continue to use Natural Born Killers because of the very helpful documentary, chaos rising, on the disk and Life of Brian because of the documentary I taped from the TV a couple of years ago.  Both documentaries help to give the films wider contexts and open up avenues for discussion. 

I am now looking for some new films to do to keep me interested in the topic, although I am trying to avoid too much sex and violence.  Something along the lines of The Producers could be interesting.  What do you think?

Re: Films for Shocking Cinema

Hi Robin

The Producers - an interesting choice. Have you considered 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' by Peter Greenaway - very arty and eye-opening to the students (especially in terms of gender, language, violence and cannibalism). My students were in awe of how well presented the cooked body was - that disturbed them more!

Personally, I tend to try to stay away from violence and horror - its too transparent. 'The Crying Game' is also useful for gender 'shock' and if you're really daring 'Pink Flamingoes' as it is still shocking some 30 years on! How about 'Triumph de Willem' the Nazi propaganda relating to the Nuremberg rallies - it enables students to confront issues of truth, fact and fiction and challenges the myth of Nazism. It sparked intensive debating about how the film and audio drew in the viewer - film as persuasive weapon.

Re: Films for Shocking Cinema

These are really good ideas thank you, I had never thought of the crying game as a text for shocking cinema before, I will give it a try and see what the reaction of the students is.  I havent seen The Cook... but I will give it viewing, I look forward to it, thanks again.