Mark Planamente
NormChicken-gate: Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton's review.
April 9th 2009 14:26
The North Melbourne AFL club has been the focus of intense media attention over the past two days, all because of a certain video that has made its way on YouTube. The video has been criticised for its negative depiction of women.
A still from the low-budget flick "The adventures of little Boris"...
Here is what David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz said on their TV show, At the Movies:
At the Movies Transcript:
David: Directors Adam Simpson and Daniel Pratt have perfectly captured the insecurities of the modern rooster in their critically acclaimed Adventures of Little Boris, a gritty drama that takes peer pressure to a whole new level.
The protagonist, Boris, a mid-20s rooster living in North Melbourne, is consumed by nasty masochistic thoughts. Growing up within a certain male culture has taught him that chickens are dispensable objects only good for two things: sex and stir-fry.
Struggling with his own masculinity, Boris attempts to win the approval of his brethren by repeatedly raping the one chicken he truly loves. Unfortunately, Boris is a high-profile rooster incapable of articulating his feelings in words; he gives little thought to the harm he is inflicting on his chicken and too much thought to how his mates back at the rooster coop will react.
The lovely chicken, played exquisitely by newcomer Lily Dale, embodies a heart-wrenching and tragic figure consumed by her love for Boris. The chicken is unable to defend herself against Boris's increasingly violent behaviour. Her raw sexuality is undeniable, with Boris falling head over heals for the gorgeous femme fatale.
The violent ending will shock some viewers, but I won't give anymore away. Margaret? (waits expectantly)
Margaret: Oh, David. I think this is a masterpiece. So evocative, so moving - just another example of what small-budget Australian films are truly capable of. Such an absurd, postmodern look at society...
David: And I must add that the musical score was inspired: Ludacris's "Move, Bitch" certainly adds to the overall uneasiness that the viewer feels.
Margaret: Oh, yes. It's incredible that a film like this can't actually get government funding from the major bodies.
David: Well, yes. I mean, there was some corporate backing for the film in the way of club sponsors, but Film Victoria should hang its head for not signing up for what could have been an epic.
Margaret: Oh certainly David. The Boris character is brilliant. I think we've all known a Boris in our lifetime, have we not?! The narcissist who truly believes they are not bound by civilian laws, I mean, the film could be a social comment on some sections of society. God, the way in which the directors use animals to demonstrate the failings of societyis almost Orwellian,.
David: I just think the Boris character is fabulously flawed. His own cathexis for the object of his affections is what drives him to such libidinal extremes. He simply does not understand his own affective mental functions.
Margaret: Well I believe it takes Baudrillardian notions of simulacra to an unexplored level. The connection between the real and the simulacra hasn't been explored in such depth since The Matrix, and I'd argue that The adventures of little Boris does it better. Simpson and Pratt are making the argument that the victim of rape no longer exists, simply because we no longer understand what rape is. Rape, particularly that involving chickens and high-profile roosters, is but an image, one to which we have been exposed too many times.
David: Fabulous analysis Margaret, although I thought I was the one who got to indulge in pretentious, unqualified academic posturing. It sounded a little bit like you just threw together a few postmodern terms that you remembered from your days at university, but hell, I dropped out of school in year ten...
Margaret: ...I mean, the film itself is frighteningly anti-feminist. But by confronting the problem, that being the oppressive self-righteous behaviour of roosters in general, the film alerts us to a systemic problem within the animal kingdom.
David: Yes, it takes a lot of the issues seen in The Lion King and builds on the notion of class division vs primal sexuality.
Margaret: And let's face it, it is rather funny in parts as well. I mean, I guffawed all the way through the four minute flick. (guffaws)
David: Yes, yes. It's funny how we can find humour in the darkest of places. Black humour can make us feel a little uneasy, but this uneasiness is counterbalanced by the social message the film manages to convey. Gobsmackingly brilliant.
Margaret: Well, I'm giving it five stars.
David: It's fantastic, four-and a half.
-SportingMind
A still from the low-budget flick "The adventures of little Boris"...
Here is what David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz said on their TV show, At the Movies:
At the Movies Transcript:
David: Directors Adam Simpson and Daniel Pratt have perfectly captured the insecurities of the modern rooster in their critically acclaimed Adventures of Little Boris, a gritty drama that takes peer pressure to a whole new level.
The protagonist, Boris, a mid-20s rooster living in North Melbourne, is consumed by nasty masochistic thoughts. Growing up within a certain male culture has taught him that chickens are dispensable objects only good for two things: sex and stir-fry.
Struggling with his own masculinity, Boris attempts to win the approval of his brethren by repeatedly raping the one chicken he truly loves. Unfortunately, Boris is a high-profile rooster incapable of articulating his feelings in words; he gives little thought to the harm he is inflicting on his chicken and too much thought to how his mates back at the rooster coop will react.
The lovely chicken, played exquisitely by newcomer Lily Dale, embodies a heart-wrenching and tragic figure consumed by her love for Boris. The chicken is unable to defend herself against Boris's increasingly violent behaviour. Her raw sexuality is undeniable, with Boris falling head over heals for the gorgeous femme fatale.
The violent ending will shock some viewers, but I won't give anymore away. Margaret? (waits expectantly)
Margaret: Oh, David. I think this is a masterpiece. So evocative, so moving - just another example of what small-budget Australian films are truly capable of. Such an absurd, postmodern look at society...
David: And I must add that the musical score was inspired: Ludacris's "Move, Bitch" certainly adds to the overall uneasiness that the viewer feels.
Margaret: Oh, yes. It's incredible that a film like this can't actually get government funding from the major bodies.
David: Well, yes. I mean, there was some corporate backing for the film in the way of club sponsors, but Film Victoria should hang its head for not signing up for what could have been an epic.
Margaret: Oh certainly David. The Boris character is brilliant. I think we've all known a Boris in our lifetime, have we not?! The narcissist who truly believes they are not bound by civilian laws, I mean, the film could be a social comment on some sections of society. God, the way in which the directors use animals to demonstrate the failings of societyis almost Orwellian,.
David: I just think the Boris character is fabulously flawed. His own cathexis for the object of his affections is what drives him to such libidinal extremes. He simply does not understand his own affective mental functions.
Margaret: Well I believe it takes Baudrillardian notions of simulacra to an unexplored level. The connection between the real and the simulacra hasn't been explored in such depth since The Matrix, and I'd argue that The adventures of little Boris does it better. Simpson and Pratt are making the argument that the victim of rape no longer exists, simply because we no longer understand what rape is. Rape, particularly that involving chickens and high-profile roosters, is but an image, one to which we have been exposed too many times.
David: Fabulous analysis Margaret, although I thought I was the one who got to indulge in pretentious, unqualified academic posturing. It sounded a little bit like you just threw together a few postmodern terms that you remembered from your days at university, but hell, I dropped out of school in year ten...
Margaret: ...I mean, the film itself is frighteningly anti-feminist. But by confronting the problem, that being the oppressive self-righteous behaviour of roosters in general, the film alerts us to a systemic problem within the animal kingdom.
David: Yes, it takes a lot of the issues seen in The Lion King and builds on the notion of class division vs primal sexuality.
Margaret: And let's face it, it is rather funny in parts as well. I mean, I guffawed all the way through the four minute flick. (guffaws)
David: Yes, yes. It's funny how we can find humour in the darkest of places. Black humour can make us feel a little uneasy, but this uneasiness is counterbalanced by the social message the film manages to convey. Gobsmackingly brilliant.
Margaret: Well, I'm giving it five stars.
David: It's fantastic, four-and a half.
-SportingMind
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Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
I knew something could be done with this raw material.
You're simply the best, to paraphrase Tina Turner.
Comment by David Edwards
I actually think the film should be given more credit for what it is: A brilliant insight into the mindset of the footballer. In all honesty, this film is a real breakthrough. I think the film needed to be that confronting so as to get an appropriate response.
The first person perspective used is a real cinematic breakthrough. It is shot just like a violent videogame, where a character goes around doing as it feels, shooting whomever it wants. Compelling viewing.