Over the past few decades, there has not been another director who would give us goosebumps. David Cronenberg. As one of the pioneers of “body horror”, Cronenberg not only created haunting visuals, but also asked his audience important questions about humanity and authoritarianism in films such as Brood as well as videodrome. Not to mention, he’s one of the few horror directors who has been able to move on to other genres and not waste ten years of his career on unnecessary sequels that undermine the dignity and artistry of his original work. Given the critical success of his latest return to science fiction Crimes of the futurenow is the perfect time to get back to this unique director and the films he loves around the world.
The following list contains ten of the best films that the director has recommended over the years. Read on for a glimpse of the best of cinema as caught by the truly visionary director.
La Strada (1954)
This film introduced the world to a genius who was Federico Fellini so it naturally had a big impact on Cronenberg, who described the film as “the start of my passion for filmmaking”. La Strada follows Gelsomina (Juliet Mazina), a naive young woman bought from her impoverished mother by the cold circus performer Zampano (Anthony Quinn). After spending years with this abusive and emotionally closed man, Gelsomina gradually becomes a shell of her former self. Unlike many of Fellini’s other iconic films, it lacks the author’s humor and satire that points to the absurdity of the modern world. It’s a beautiful and tragic story about the corruption of a good soul, so it’s no surprise that Cronenberg responds to it.
You can broadcast La Stradaon HBO Max, The Criterion Channel and Kanopy.
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Hour of the Wolf (1968)
It is quite obvious that any respected film director should put Ingmar Bergman movie on their list of favorite movies. It’s even more obvious that a respected horror film director should include Bergman’s only horror film, hour of the wolf, which Cronenberg describes as “a wonderful film; real nightmare.” Starring Bergman. Max von Sydow as well as Liv Ullmann, this unsettling classic tells the story of an artist haunted by nightmares from his past. During the “hour of the wolf,” which occurs between midnight and dawn, he tells his wife about his painful memories. This film proved that horror films don’t have to be relegated to the status of pulp and can tell interesting stories with depth, Cronenberg’s legacy continued with a direct influence on his film. Fly.
You can broadcast hour of the wolf on the Criteria channel.
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And God Created Woman (1956)
For many younger generations, Cronenberg’s work was a kind of “forbidden fruit”, since many of his films, like crash were released in very limited editions due to their controversial material. For a young David Cronenberg, Brigitte Bardot, the star of the French New Wave, with whom he was “head over heels in love”, was just as inaccessible and seductive, since her films could only be shown to adults in Toronto. This did not stop Cronenberg from traveling to New York and seeing such Bardot classics as And God made a woman. Producer Roger Vadim, this film follows Juliet Hardy (Bardo) as she teases and fires every man within a 5 mile radius. Although it doesn’t look like a Cronenberg film at all, it opened the door to what could be shown on the screen and allowed artists like him to flourish.
You can broadcast And God made a woman on HBO Max, The Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel and Plex.
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Rosetta (1999)
When Cronenberg chaired the jury in 1999 Cannes Film Festivalhe had to choose between films by established celebrity directors such as Pedro Almodovar, Jim Jarmuschas well as David Lynch. However, they were two brothers Jean-Pierre as well as Luc Dardennewhich sparked, according to Cronenberg, “the fastest vote for the Palme d’Or in Cannes history”.
Rosetta tells about the stressful life of a young impulsive girl living with her alcoholic mother. Cronenberg gave these now-critical favorite directors their first major international film award and sent the filmmakers the message that you don’t need special effects, plot twists, or even actors to create a touching and heartbreaking story.
You can broadcast Rosetta on the Criteria channel.
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Blue is the warmest color (2013)
Another Cannes classic, this love story can only be described as a show of strength. Blue is the warmest color follows Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) a young French high school student who begins a sexual awakening after she meets and falls deeply in love with Emma (Lea Seydoux). It’s easy to see why Cronenberg chose Seyda in the end. Crimes of the future. Regarding Seydou, Cronenberg described her as “a fantastic actress” with “such an emotional power” that is striking in this “beautiful, sexy, interesting, tense film”. This film is not for the faint of heart, but it carries a tenderness and empathy that will leave you in peace.
You can broadcast Blue is the warmest color on AMC+ and Canopy.
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Personal Shopper (2016)
Starring another member Crimes of the future Cast, Kristin Stewartit was one of the films that convinced Cronenberg to hire her. Personal Shopper, from famous French director Olivier Assayasfollows a personal shopper in Paris whose twin brother recently died from a heart condition they both suffer from. Instead of leaving town and a job for which she has no true attachment, she stays behind to fulfill a promise she made to her brother that if he dies before her, she will try to make contact with his spirit. This is a supernatural tale like no other, narrated by the incomparable Kristen Stewart in a gripping, intimate and overwhelmingly compelling performance.
You can broadcast Personal Shopper on AMC+ and Canopy.
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Laen (1995)
la en may be shot in black and white, but there is nothing old-fashioned or conservative about it. The film follows the 24 hours of the lives of three young friends who live in projects outside of Paris following the hospitalization of their friend Abdel, who was seriously injured while being detained by the police. The film did for French society what Do the right things did for America. In a stylistic portrait of one stormy and stressful day, we are given a detailed portrait of the anger, hatred and suffering that escalates when you are killed by the people who are supposed to protect you. Along with its political significance, this film has personal significance for Cronenberg as it introduced him to “fantastic emotional depth” and “intelligence.” Vincent Casselwith whom he worked on several films.
You can broadcast la en on the Criteria channel.
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Raw (2016)
Although many articles in the press were devoted to comparing Cronenberg with crash to Julia DucourneauX Titaniumthe director was also an outspoken fan of his previous film. Rawwhich convinced him that Ducourtnot was a “really strong talent”. Raw focuses on Justine, a young vegetarian woman who enters veterinary school, tastes meat for the first time, and soon develops more dangerous and exotic cravings. Although it’s still too early to tell after only two films, DuCournot seems more and more like the heir to the Cronenberg legacy, pushing the body horror genre to new limits with commentary on feminism, homosexuality and gender dysphoria.
You can broadcast Raw on Netflix.
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Strange Days (1995)
Katherine Bigelow may be known for her work on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but strange days perhaps a more resonant film. The film is set in 1999, during the last days of the old millennium, and follows Lenny (Ralph Fiennes), a former police officer who now makes a living selling virtual reality experiences based on real people’s memories. One day, he receives a virtual headset containing the memories of a killer who killed a prostitute. Bigelow delves into the issues of violence in pornography, domestic violence and police brutality, all in a sci-fi setting, and proved to Cronenberg that Fiennes was the perfect fit for his film. Spider.
strange days not currently available on demand or streaming. However, Blu-ray can be purchased from Amazon.
Buy on Amazon
Don’t Look Now (1973)
When Cronenberg himself describes the film as the most frightening he’s ever seen, you know it’s a must see. Don’t look now begins when husband and wife Laura (Julie Christie) and John (Donald Sutherland) arrive in Venice, still mourning the untimely death of their young daughter. While there, the two sisters surprise them by learning that their daughter is trying to contact them. Although this Nicholas Roeg a classic filled with terrifying imagery, it’s a psychological exploration of relationship grief that really sticks with you. This mixture of horror and suffering clearly influenced Cronenberg’s work, especially Brood which contains explicit visual references to this British classic.
You can broadcast Don’t look now on Kanopy and Pluto TV.
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Source: Collider
