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Man Bites Dog - Criterion Collection | Year: 1993 Classification: Foreign Film - French Directed: - André Bonzel - Benoît Poelvoorde - Rémy Belvaux Actors/Actresses: - Benoît Poelvoorde - Jacqueline Poelvoorde-Pappaert Brutal rape does not an art film make While I appreciated some of the points made in this film, and its harsh criticism of sensationalist 'real TV', I have a major caveat: this film contains THE MOST BRUTAL RAPE SCENE I HAVE EVER SEEN (ONSCREEN) IN MY LIFE. I think that, while obviously it serves to demonstrate the complete immorality and viciousness of the protagonist/murderer, it is also gratuitous and extremely hazardous to the health of anyone who has gone through sexual violence. I wish I could say that it would bother every human being, but men often seem to go untouched by the cruelties inflicted on women. So. Compelling premise, but stomach-turning content that I don't think anyone should have to see without being aware that it's in there. I saw this movie 5 years ago and it still gives me nightmares. In a bad way. Pure Art C'est arrivé près de chez vous (Man Bites Dog) is a mocumentary (fake-documentary) from Belgium, released in 1992. It is a masterpiece. Some people just don't like it, and you wonna know why? It's because they probably don't have the mind to understand what it is about. From what I've seen, I think the film isn't about one particular subject. That's why some people feel cheated. That's how I thought the first time I saw it. But I guess the film is aimed at how all human beings are the same. If they're poor, rich, black, white, young, old, nice, mean, helper, or killer. The main character, Benoît Poelvoorde, is a serial killer. He kills for money, and for pleasure. Basically, all that is done in the film is the crew hangs around Poelvoorde. When you're watching, you'll probably say "This is boring, all we're watching is his everyday life. It's boring." And that is very true. All you're doing is watching what he does in his everyday life, which is boring. Very boring. But at the same time, you find yourself attached to your seat. I don't know why I was, and you probably won't know why you were either. What this film taught me was that there are two sides to every single person. Benoît Poelvoorde was a cold-hearted, $h!+ talking, serial killer, yet at times he seems like your best friend, like you know him so well. And that's what the film is about. No matter how bad a person is, they're still a human. You find so much incommmon and uncommon with eachother. And that's what the film is aimed at. It's about nothing, but there's a purpose and lesson to it. I'm 15, and it's rated NC-17, so I watched this film illegally, but if you're a parent, and your child is used to seeing blood, let them see it, they'll like it just as much as I did. It's not a family movie, but it's a learning movie. It will shock you, but you won't mind. The Criterion Collection unearths yet another gem in the large spectrum that is foreign film. This movie would never have even been released in America given the nature of the plotline and in-your-face brutality contained within. The movie is a mockumentary of sorts, as a camera crew follows and documents the everyday life of the ever likable Benoit. Too bad he's a serial killer. There will be many times that you will laugh...and feel incredibly bad for doing so as all the humor centers around Ben's choice of work. I do feel that I should warn people that some of the material may be considered offensive or just plain to brutal for a weak stomach. I read one review mention a brutal rape scene, and indeed one is included in the film, but I must say that the reviewer exaggerates a bit and most likely has never seen Irreversible which contains the most brutal rape scene I have ever seen. It isn't the humor or shock value that makes this movie stand out though. It is the implied message that hits home. And that is the lack of morality within the media (example: The use of ultra violence and sex to sell). Also I feel I should mention that the film makers themselves do an excellent job on the super low budget that they had to work with, even using themselves in the role of all the main characters. I recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in social commentaries (Natural Born Killers is a good example) or to anyone who is interested in expanding their minds and movie palette. Buy Man Bites Dog at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Man Bites Dog Search with the Priority Search Engine on Man Bites Dog This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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