A Clockwork Orange
Deeply Phycological Film!
Hi All,
Today I am reviewing one of the most interesting and inventive and perhaps disturbing dystopian films out there.
I will start by saying that if you are a fan of Dystopian films and have not seen this, then I strongly recommend you do so after reading this review.
The basis of the story focuses on Alex DeLarge as the leader of a gang of "droogs" (Georgie, Pete and Dim) with his key interests mainly consisting of rape, ultra violence and Beethoven.
The droogs enjoy a very extreme lifestyle which involves getting heavily intoxicated and committing all sorts of crime, with no considerations for their victims.
One night after getting heavily intoxicated, the gang enjoy a night of crime which involves a fight with a rival gang, beating a man to the point of crippling him, and one of it’s most disturbing scenes to which they rape the mans wife whilst singing “singing in the rain”.
Following this unsavoury night, Alex is mey by and cautioned by his probation officer, and thereafter only leads the droogs to commit petty crimes, much to the groups discontent, as they are used to committing high profile crimes.
Alex senses the groups discontent and responds by attacking them, and this action ultimately leads to the group turning on him in the middle of a violent burglary, as he ends up being arrested as they flee, and is ultimately sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
2 years into the sentence, he is offered an experimental aversion therapy for rehabilitating criminals, to which he accepts, but not long after this regrets his decision. But by the point he realises the phycological effects, it is too late, and he is unable to even think of sexual or violent crimes without feeling sick.
Alex consequently loses his free will, and after it is clear that he is incapable of committing his previous crimes, he is retuned to society, only to find that the world is a much scarier place now that he has lost his ability to act violently towards anyone.
The film has a few more twists and turns beyond this, which I will not write about, lest I spoil the movie for those who have not watched it.
The movie itself had a big reaction when it was initially released, even going as far as being banned in the united kingdom after mass protests and the rape of a dutch girl by a group of men singing “singing in the rain”.
The massive controversy that followed the release of the film, has today made it one of the most famous crime dystopian films in Great Britain. The film keeps its audience entertained and entices an emotional connection to the character, as you go from hating the protagonist, to feeling sorry for him.
The film does not seem to have any direct message, but is definitely not for the faint hearted. Personally I think that the film depicts a message of human compassion to violent criminals, especially in todays justice system which some serious crimes are only treated with very relaxed sentences, much to the publics annoyance.
I refer to a trial I saw recently involving a police officer ‘PC Harper’ who was dragged for over a mile to his death after responding to a burglary involving a group of young criminals, sadly the criminals were only let off with lenient sentences, even smiling in court, much to the publics annoyance.
Not to get off subject about the film, but I would be interested in everyone’s opinions on the message they get from the film, so please let me know.
As always, thanks for reading and please subscribe for more.