The imagery in this film is certainly vivid: eels slithering through the orifices of dead horses, frogs being boiled alive, children being forced to drink urine. Then there's the douching episode, and the notorious kiddie porn scenes. Yep, it's gross.
And all in the service of what? Why, those big themes of course:
1) Nazis aren't nice.
2) See 1).
When you are sticking your neck out with daring themes like those, then I guess it's all right if you overdo things a little bit.
I last saw this film 20 years ago when it was new. It was just as offensive then as it is now, and just as pointless.
There is one reason to see this "classic". The great Polish leading man, Daniel Olbrychski, makes one of his first non-Polish appearances, although he has virtually nothing to do, except expose his bare bum. This film just can't get anything right.
Watch for the scene where cute little Oskar blinds his teacher. What a joker! What a hero! And what a performance from little Oskar. Sometimes he stares straight ahead! Sometimes he beats his little drum! Sometimes he does both at the same time!! You'd think talent like that could stop a measly world war.
This film is only two hours twenty minutes but feels much, much longer. That unfortunately hasn't changed since the '70's either -- the interminability of unadulterated pretentiousness. Bring extra pillows to sit on if you feel up to the challenge of taking a dip in this sty.
And all in the service of what? Why, those big themes of course:
1) Nazis aren't nice.
2) See 1).
When you are sticking your neck out with daring themes like those, then I guess it's all right if you overdo things a little bit.
I last saw this film 20 years ago when it was new. It was just as offensive then as it is now, and just as pointless.
There is one reason to see this "classic". The great Polish leading man, Daniel Olbrychski, makes one of his first non-Polish appearances, although he has virtually nothing to do, except expose his bare bum. This film just can't get anything right.
Watch for the scene where cute little Oskar blinds his teacher. What a joker! What a hero! And what a performance from little Oskar. Sometimes he stares straight ahead! Sometimes he beats his little drum! Sometimes he does both at the same time!! You'd think talent like that could stop a measly world war.
This film is only two hours twenty minutes but feels much, much longer. That unfortunately hasn't changed since the '70's either -- the interminability of unadulterated pretentiousness. Bring extra pillows to sit on if you feel up to the challenge of taking a dip in this sty.