Horror Vs. Comedy

The discussion over the role of women in Macunaima got rather heated last week. I for one appreciated the fact that the oversexualized role of women in the film was merely in the sense of satire. However, the rape scene involving the guerilla Ci and Macunaima in a sense disturbed me through in effective cinematic device. I discussed this on tuesday, though i feel that it is worth mentioning again. The rape is intercut with Chaplin-esque comic blundering that leaves the viewers conflicted as to why they are laughing at the obvious comedy on screen, even though a rape is about to be perpetrated. The same goes for the scene when Macunaima beats the woman, while it is intercut with scenes of Wenceslau comically falling face first into his food. The visceral nature of these scenes both involving violence towards women, though present shares its screen time with a laughable situation, creating a sort of real mindfuck with the viewer. Definitely Effective filmmaking.

Speaking of mindfucks, Coffin Joe was one of the strangest, though highly entertaining films i've seen recently. The films was definitely frustrating to watch, which in my opinion really became part of the enjoyment of watching it. i was left utterly speechless after viewing it, and the twist at the end (the "LSD" injected into the patients was merely tap water) was shocking in its pulp-y sort of sensibility. I would like to see more of this series if only it were available in the states.