It is also so, so dirty.
Like filthy beyond belief.
Not smutty dirty though, but muddy dirty.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
It is a shame he never got to see the completed work, becauseit is a masterpiece.
Even the word masterpiece, however, doesn’t do the film justice.
Masquerading as a nobleman, he is tasked with studying the society without interfering.
An Earth scientist travels to a far-off planet that has been locked in a brutal medieval era for centuries. Masquerading as a nobleman, he is tasked with studying the society without interfering. As he witnesses the harsh repression of intellectual growth and the savage realities of daily life, his resolve to remain neutral is challenged, leading to an internal conflict between his mission and his humanity.
But to reduce the film to that is to do it a mighty disservice.
WhereasSolarisreverses that,Hard to Be a Goddoubles down on this with profound metaphors aplenty.
On your break from saving the galaxy, explore these brave new worlds.
Just How Much Mud Can a Film Use?
There are many things aboutHard to Be a Godabout which viewers will vehemently disagree on with one another.
Characters urinate, defecate, and vomit in public spaces with relative glee at their actions.
It highlights the brutality and the dehumanization of society on Arkanar.
It isn’t just the inhabitants of Arkanar that are dirty, though.
German makes exceptional use of close-ups as well to further accentuate the filth of the characters and their world.
Why Is ‘Hard to Be a God’ JustSoDirty?
Does it mean anything at all?
There’s no point denying that this film won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
But, is this a film that will make you think?
Is this a film that will challenge what you thought possible in cinema?
But sometimes we need a little shaking.
Hard to Be a Godis currently available to stream on Kanopy in the U.S.
WATCH ON KANOPY
