 |
| Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker |
I've been screening the film
Bonnie and Clyde for my Film Studies class. Directed by Arthur Penn, the film was released in 1967 and is one of the rare examples of a film panned by TIME magazine and then six months later, the magazine published a long and glowing review. In 1967,
Roger Ebert wrote that Bonnie and Clyde was the film that would come to epitomize the 1960's. He was right.
Today the idea of bank robbers who rob banks but believe in love of family and in treating the 99% with respect has some cache. Although the violence is exceptionally well done, violence is still a hard sell for me. Sometimes stretching oneself is a good thing. I hope my students will agree.
 |
| Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty as Bonnie and Clyde |
El & I recently watched "Bonnie and Clyde," with the anticipation of people who have been screening many "old" films for the past few years . . . & were disappointed. I think the shock of intervening history, since this film first made an impact in theaters around the country, has de-fused the film.
ReplyDeleteCharles, I've been showing to my students in a Film Studies class and they're loving it. The average age is about 20. I think it appeals to the anarchist in all of us. The live just for this very moment mentality. I seem to like the film more each time I watch it. I agree with you that the violence doesn't shock contemporary audiences. The belief in no future unfortunately resonates for them.
ReplyDelete