Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tinear (A) on September 26, 2009 at 17:00:28

yes, as punk music sometimes was ("Sex Pistols," "Clash," "Gang of Four").
From Brazil--- during the murderous and equally-repressive-as-Pinochet's Chile regime--- comes, "The Red Light Bandit."
Based on the true story of a vicious Sao Paulo criminal that broke into women's home, chatted and socialized with them, and then raped and brutally murdered them all, 23-year old Rogerio Sganzerla's classic and manic film is far more than a pulse-pounding thriller. Rather, the criminal's hideous actions are but vehicles to place the greater crimes of the totally corrupt authorities, from police to politicians, into proper context.
This is vital, brilliant film-making on a par with the ground-breaking experimental films of Bunuel and Godard. Entertaining, yes, but so much more: a brave manifesto in the face of a murderous regime.
Please, expect to be challenged in what you've come to expect a "film" to be: music, seemingly disconnected cuts, and roller-coaster editing may leave you disturbed. However, if you accept that a legitimate aim of film is to explode the conventions of the ordinary, you'll be glad you got on this ride.
It is rare that a brave, indomitable, voice escapes from beneath a cruel, Kafka-like modern society of almost perfect repression.
It is films like this that show the almost limitless power of great art.