The DVD of The Pervert's Guide To Cinema, the 2006 collaboration between Slovenian philosopher Slaoj Zizek and British director Sophie Fiennes, has been staring at me from the shelf for well over a year. I've resisted the temptation to throw it on and The Pervert’s Guide To Ideology somewhat justifies the reluctance – it can be monotonous, heavy going and sometimes impenetrable. However, get into its groove and there are fascinating ideas to mull over and discuss.
What Slaoj Zizek is here to discuss are the ideas presented by particular films - be they political, social or other - and how they go about presenting those ideas. He opens with They Live, which he calls 'a forgotten masterpiece of the Left,' and seamlessly jumps from Taxi Driver to 'it's remake' The Searchers, drawing parallels with John Ford's finest Western with Iraq: Natalie Wood's reluctance to be rescued by John Wayne mirrors Iraqi's lack of cooperation with American troops. Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, Seconds, Titanic, Cabaret, The Dark Knight, Jaws and The Last Temptation of Christ are just some of the wide and varied films up for discussion. What did he say about them? A lot. Let's just leave it at that.
The relentless nature of Zizek's delivery can sometimes feel like a stream of consciousness with a style that's meant to be read, not heard. He can veer away from cinema to take in consumerism and politics, concentrating on fascism, communism, and capitalism.
Fiennes works to break up the two hours plus lecture by placing Zizek in sets and wardrobe that mimic the films he's discussing, which are welcome sight gags to what can be an overwhelming experience. They can, however, be distracting with the eye wandering to check out the backdrop instead of listening to Zizek – and he's a man you have to stare at intently to gather everything he's saying. Miss his kick off point of any film and you're lost for the next ten minutes.
With some ideas difficult to grasp, and Zizek at times hard work to understand, The Pervert's Guide To Ideology is a must for film lovers.
