Walerian Borowczyk

[garbed_attic]

So, having written my PhD thesis on Czech animation and being a fan of Eastern-European cinema generally, I've decided it's probably time for me to devote efforts to the filmography of the late Walerian Borowczyk, especially now that I've worked out how to pronounce his name.

Last night I watched his first feature length film Mr. and Mrs. Kabal's Theatre (1967), which was a great bunch of lads. It was just cruel-absurdist little vignettes connected by the inclusion of the titular android-like figures who bickered a lot and had complex relationships with butterflies. I found its use of tactile sounds gratifying in a Švankmajery way. It reminded me a fair bit of Edward Gorey, who I always forget wasn't some post-Tim Burton 90s phenomenon - I would have assumed that Borowczyk was an influence on him, but Gorey had actually produced most of his best-known works by '67! Gorey's cartoon figures are moderately less malevolent and more asexual than Borowczyk's, but they both like using abstract objects that sort of thrum emptily yet heavily at the side of the panel or screen. Lots of quietness interrupted by inexplicable occurrences.

I've also watched some of Borowczyk's shorts. I'm pretty clued up on his animation.

But the rub (so-called) comes with his later life-action films. I've hardly watched pornography since long-gone adolescent nights of waiting up for the pay-per-view previews and the music video for Benny Benassi's 'Satisfaction', outside of a few gravure videos and a lot of image galleries of Nonami Takizawa. I've seen unsimulated sex in the likes of Lars Von Trier, but - in short - I've watched bugger all in the way of sex that's been produced to get the viewer off.

So, the likes of Emmanuelle 5 would be new and potentially unpleasantly sleazy ground for me! I can only name about two modern day porn stars, let alone having watched them! I've read about Stoya from the feminist blogosphere!

Now, I know this is art-house pornography so most of it will be soft-core and pretentious in a way that allows the viewer comfortable distance, but is it even worth sullying my already anxious and guilty soul for the sake of watching The Beast (1975) etc.?

Are they worth watching? Dukey? Puce Moment?

My main concern with watching something like Immoral Tales (1974) is that from the plot synopsis it mostly seems to involve teenage girls getting themselves or other off. When this is fictional and simulated this wouldn't bother me. Likewise, if I could feel sure that the cast are all over eighteen. But - this being a French film - isn't there a reasonable chance that some of the actresses were actual kids and that this stuff is legally and morally child pornography? Since Immoral Tales is available from the frikkin' BFI player I'm not concerned about legal repercussions, I just don't want to watch or endorse child pornography 1.) cause that'd be wrong 2.) cause it would seriously upset my OCD.

Thoughts, those in the know, please!

[Paaaaul]

The Beast doesn't include sexual aspects for the sake of getting people off. It's entirely to shock. It's definitely more 'full-on' than Immoral Tales, but the context of those scenes is so horrific/ludicrous that you'll more likely be agape in shock, or laughing, than getting turned on.

I bought all the Arrow Borowczyk Blurays last year, and there is a bit shaved out of one of the short films to remove an illegal sex act. I'm sure if there had been any possible legality problems with Immoral Tales, Arrow wouldn't have released it uncut. They really do go in-depth with their research. Of the six Borowczyk full lengths I've seen, this is definitely the closest to being soft-core porn, and probably the weakest.

[garbed_attic]

Thanks Paaaaul!

Which of the features/ live-action shorts would you especially recommend then?

[Paaaaul]

Thanks Paaaaul!

Which of the features/ live-action shorts would you especially recommend then?

I've seen Goto Isle Of Love, Blanche, The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyl & Miss Osbourne as well as those mentioned above. I would recommend any of them. Goto and Blanche are really nice - relatively gentle - films with great cinematography. Jekyl is another film with a lot of sexual stuff in it, but it's really 'extreme cinema' rather than porny.
I'd probably choose Blanche and Jekyl as my favourites of that lot.

All of the shorts I've seen are worth a watch, but you might want to give A Private Collection a miss. It's all about porn and sex toys. I haven't seen his early Polish shorts so I can't comment on them.

[marquis_de_sad]

"Interesting" fact. During the recording of the first Adam Buxton RHLSTP, Adam briefly mentioned The Beast, but couldn't remember the name of the director. Richard asked the audience and no one knew — but I knew! Only I discovered I'd only ever read the name and didn't know how to pronounce it, so I said nothing.

Some Borowczyk films to watch:

Doctor Jekyll and the Women
Sensual and disturbing horror. Really mysterious film, for ages only available in terrible prints, now fully restored.

Goto: Island of Love
Late 60s political craziness. Very engagé, but with a strange atmosphere. Beautiful b&w cinematography. Not one of his sexy films.

Une collection particulière
Short film he made with Andre Pierre de whatshisface who wrote Girl on a Motorcycle. Just a bloke going through a collection of old porn. Surprisingly enjoyable (and not very shocking, so don't worry about that sort of thing).

If you don't like any of them, then live action Borowczyk probably isn't for you. For decades, film critics loved his animated shorts and hated everything else, so you won't be alone in that. Once you get into him, his films really click.

edit: pressed post to see I'm just basically repeating what Paaaaul said. Never mind!

[Bhazor]

Did someone say Ballsack?

[Noodle Lizard]

Mate, fucksake.

Immoral Tales is good fun.  Most of the films are quite shite, really, and far from arousing, but there's something very cool and trash-arty about it, especially since most of the segments are period pieces.  The Elizabeth Bathory one (with Picasso's daughter in the titular role, no less) is very well-made.

It's far better than Destricted, let's put it that way.

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Blanche is terrifically eerie and haunting, with a particularly striking use of music. It's one of those rare films where there really is no other film that gives off the same feeling. It genuinely seems to exist in a world of its own.

[Paaaaul]

Arrow are having a sale, so Blanche, Goto, Short Films and Animation, Immoral Tales and The Beast are all cheapish. http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=89
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Miss Osbourne is only £7.99 on Amazon at the moment too, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strange-Jekyll-Osbourne-Format-Blu-ray/dp/B00S8KIIJ4 .

All the Blurays are great, but Jekyll and Osbourne is probably the most laden with goodness.

[Shay Chaise]

I remember getting The Beast at a pirate DVD shop in China, stuck it in the middle of a pile of ten films with some other grot mixed in among the blockbusters and other arty shit. I'm sure there's a bit where some bird is frigging herself on a bedknob and another bit where she fell out of a tree and landed on the Beast's dingler. Absolute quality. Five star film so thanks for the memory. Forgot it existed.

[Noodle Lizard]

I'm sure there's a bit where some bird is frigging herself on a bedknob and another bit where she fell out of a tree and landed on the Beast's dingler. Absolute quality. Five star film so thanks for the memory. Forgot it existed.

All underscored by jaunty harpsichord music, no less.  Great film.

[garbed_attic]

Une collection particulière
Short film he made with Andre Pierre de whatshisface who wrote Girl on a Motorcycle. Just a bloke going through a collection of old porn. Surprisingly enjoyable (and not very shocking, so don't worry about that sort of thing).

Except for the Victorian child pornography. f'sake.

First of his pornographics films I've watched since it was on Mubi. For obvious reasons, has very, very much put me off pursuing further. A shame as I love his animations.

[Monsieur Verdoux]

His live action stuff is definitely not for everyone. I find a lot of his explicitly 'erotic' films really quite dull, except for The Beast which seemed like a fascinating dissection of the latent desires of a certain social class.

[garbed_attic]

Is the sound design in them anywhere near as remarkable as the sound design in the animations?

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Only very intermittently in the 'erotic' films (certain dream sequences etc.). The only live action film of his that I've seen where the sound design is consistently imaginative is Goto, Island of Love.