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Directed by: Lindsay Anderson Starring: Malcolm McDowell Almost half a century later, the sixties continue to have a reputation as a revolutionary time, and Lindsay Anderson’s If… captures the spirit of the era really well. It takes place in a British public college (the equivalent of an all male private secondary school in the US), where a small group of students is in constant rebellion against the administration and student government. As the story progresses, the film develops hints of surrealism, and the barrier between reality and fantasy begins to break down, culminating in the powerful and violent finale, which would be impossible to make in today’s social climate. Malcolm McDowell gives a career defining performance as Mick Travis, a role which he adopts again in two other collaborations with Anderson (O Lucky Man and Britannia Hospital). He has great charisma and commanding presence as the leader of the rebel outfit, capturing the angst and dark humor of the role with abandon. Seeing this film, it’s obvious why Kubrick cast him as Alex DeLarge in Clockwork Orange, a character which shares a lot of the personality at work in McDowell’s performance here. Anderson’s direction is innovative and imaginative, and fuels the steady momentum of the film. The movie begins quietly, with a self-assured tranquility, gradually building in visual power as the conflict grows more and more fierce, eventually exploding in a powerful display of imagery and violence. Anderson alternates between black and white and color film to juxtapose the thematic content between chapters of the film, but also as a way of pronouncing specific actions within a single scene. When it was first released, If… was welcomed as a call to revolution, viewed as a commentary on authoritarian power structures in the government and a romanticization of rebellious youth. However, its meaning has come to change over time, and people now view it as a potent rendering on the foolish and idealistic outrage of teenage angst and culture. The way the film deconstructs the lives of students is very effective. The power relationships between the “whips”(students who take on administrative tasks for better living quarters and limited authority) and the rest of the student body is vividly demonstrated, and the opportunity for abuses that arise from that structure are revealed, shedding a unique light on the normally private world of the wealthy elite. There are strong sexual overtones to the film, with the whips exploiting younger students, abusing their influence within the student community. If… is a beautiful crafted film, driven by McDowell’s presence and Anderson’s behind the camera personality. This is the best work either of them has ever done, unfortunately resulting in McDowell’s typecasting in his future roles. PROS: dark humor, innovative structure and directing CONS: The elite environment of the students is unfamiliar to a lot of audiences, particularly non-British viewers ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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May 4, 2004 00:22
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| # ? Apr 26, 2024 07:41 |
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