Wednesday, February 08, 2006

The Exploitation Fun Continues!

Goodbye, Uncle Tom – 1971

Man! If you thought that Africa Addio was exploitive, stand by to receive! Here we have a movie with a novel approach. It’s a documentary about slavery, but it’s presented as if a camera crew had gone back in time, with the Italians filming pre-Civil War south somehow. It’s a weird feeling, as if you’ve gone to one of those historic re-enactments, but they’re reenacting things that no one would even talk about today, let alone do.

I really can’t go into too much detail on this movie. Sufficient to say that African Americans will probably HATE this movie (except maybe the ending) while every one else will be made uncomfortable. I mean, no one in my family as far back as my mom can trace it ever owned slaves, but I’m embarrassed that ANYONE ever even thought this way.

Anyway, if you can stomach through it, you will be rewarded by LOTS of naked black folk (both male and female, so the ladies will be happy), and I suspect (but again, don’t know for sure, as I’m not a history expert) that you’ll learn a fair amount of history along the way. Just be forewarned. This is not for the easily offended.

Three beers out of five (I said there was LOTS of nudity, right?)

Godfathers of Mondo – 2003

Here’s something you don’t see every day. A documentary about documentariests. And the guys who actually invented the Mondo genre. (Curious folks will note that I own 6 discs of Mondo stuff, so yeah, I like the genre). Along the way we learn such fascinating little tidbits that the scene in Africa Addio where they are almost shot was actually true, that the song “More” was actually written for Mondo Cane, and that the two partners who made these and five other movies split up so permanently that they still haven’t spoken to one another, twenty years later. In fact, the documentary about them was unable to bring them together.

This is a true documentary, with lots of scenes from all their movies, including both Mondo Canes (which I have, and let me warn you that they are pretty rough too. Don’t try to cut your exploitation teeth on these!) and one I haven’t seen yet, but will soon, “Women Around The World”. Lots of subs here, since neither Paolo Cavara nor Gualtiero Jacopetti speak any English.

Three beers out of five (it kept my interest, and taught me some interesting stuff about people who affected the movies I like. Your mileage may vary.)