One of my favorite viewing experiences last year was Sophie Fienes’ playful and thoughtful essay film on rockstar philosopher Slavoj Zizek’s rant on the role of cinema. As my friend described it “a clarion call for cinephilia”. Lucky for you, Sophie is distributing it herself and it is now playing at the IFC here in NYC. She’s even going to be at the theater friday and saturday evening. I almost got on the plane and flew back from Sundance just so I could see it again!
To explore the power and mystery of movies, the charismatic, garrulous psychoanalyst/philosopher/cinephile Slavoj Zizek revisits Vertigo, Duck Soup, Dr. Strangelove and dozens of other classics. Walking through locations and sets and even inserting himself into key scenes, he declares cinema to be “the ultimate pervert art. It doesn’t give you what you desire — it tells you how to desire.” Whether untangling David Lynch’s labyrinthine work or upending everything you thought you knew about Hitchcock, Zizek illuminates the movies with passion, insight and an unfailing sense of humor, resulting in what The Times of London hailed as “an extraordinary reassessment of cinema.”
Check out the website here.
