Someone left a review in Letterbox saying : "This is an effective movie because who else, but a predator could capture on film the sheer terror a woman feels when she’s abused." And I couldn't agree more because indeed who else would know how a girl's world crumbles when she's forced to become a woman after being violated and trapped in the box shaped by what the blood she bleeds every month tells men and society about her, a man who violated the world of a 13 yo girl would portray that with great satisfaction even if one would think about it ...
@@Yasmin-jt1ux I agree but you don't stop being a girl just because a man decided to rape you, you're still a girl, there's this weird idea that getting your period or having sex is what makes you a woman and it's completely wrong
The first man Carol killed broke into her apartment. The second was actively attempting to assault her. She acted only in self-defense and did nothing wrong.
@@wolfgangkranek376 i disagree, Polanski says "she did it for rational reasons" when explaining why they scrapped the murder of the woman after the first man. If it was a distorted point of view, they could simply distort her experience with the woman as well.
@@rhukkyo_ ...... TEHRE'S MORE TO THIS STORY! Says the obvious villains. They don't want you to defend yourself. They're not stupid, they are playing dumb, and the whole point is for you to submit If you don't, you're not playing by their sadistic game's "rules, you have denied their brothers sustenance (aka, your victimhood), so you must pay. They do that in one way by denying the reality of the situation as a taunt, if you notice, and it happens all over the world each and every day. Don't forget, they know what they're doing.
I want to address this whole "separating the art from the artist" issue because I feel like it's become a big topic lately, with a lot of great artists being outed as awful people. Separating the art from the artist does not mean ignoring or endorsing the artist's wrongdoings for the sake of entertainment. It just means to enjoy their art from a critical perspective with the awareness that the artist did something wrong.
Absolutely, but I think we should all remember that when we are talking about separating the art from the artist, we're not talking about their projects or creativity. We're talking about them as a person, so their art has no bearing nor does it make up for a lack of character or predatory behavior.
And also he didn't make the movie all alone, lots of other creatives that had nothing to do with his bad behavior didn't deserve to have their work diminished bc of him.
I agree, i also think depending on what level the artist insert themself in their art, it would be dificult to actually enjoy their art. For example, Alex Marshall (vocalist of the band Daughters) has been acused of abusing his ex partner (Lingua Ignota's singer), which includes breaking her back during... well, you can imagine. I can't for the life of me listen to any of his work ever again due to that. 😕 but yeah, i don't want to judge anyone that still have their records. People have diferent ways to interpret art and i just can't separate the art from the artist most of the time. Is getting even more dificult to listen to various male bands after so many allegations have been brought to light after the #metoo movement.
I used to feel the same exact way -- and I still want to -- but now whenever I look at an artists' work, I think, "He's so talented. I hope he's not a PDF file." Or, "He seems like a nice person. I hope there are no bodies in his basement." It's gotten to the point where I just want everyone to behave. I'm so tired of men like the diddler.
I feel so seen by this movie: the isolation from moving to a new place, ocd tendencies, asexual nature with a dark sexual appetite and then the self defensive stabbing that I dream about pretty often. I just want to feel light
@@happilyevernever4289 By “dark sexual appetite,” she is likely referring to Carol’s general curiosity toward men as evidenced by her sniffing male clothing, kissing her suitor after pondering it further, watching sexual imagery on TV, having allegorical sexual fantasies, and so on. And as for”asexual nature,” that’s pretty self-explanatory. Despite her curiosity, Carol still finds it repulsive in practice. Even something to be feared. Makes perfect sense to me. The push-and-pull of having sexual desire for men but being terrifyingly afraid of the threat men can pose. At least that’s how I interpreted her comment.
The way Roman exploited his control over Catherine by making her see her husband on her period and keeping her from her baby. Predatory filmmakers in every way
Right !! That just angered me so much , and wanting her to appear naked or semi nude And when she refuses , he then hopes she will wear this super see-through night gown, and she still asks for something under it, trying to do her job without having to overstep her boundaries like she was already being made to do . And what even is the point of having her only see her husband while on her period ?? Does he think her being on her period would make her husband not desire her ? And the whole Playboy thing 🤦♀️ like dude how does that have anything to do with the movie. He disgusts me and irks me with his ✨️ in the name of art ✨️ he behaves and treats women the way he does. It's no surprise he would want to make a movie like this .
also about the roman situation: his movies aren't just *his*. there are so much more people involved, and to enjoy those movies doesn't mean you agree or enjoy what he did.
I’d like to offer an alternative interpretation. What if Carol doesn’t secretly want sex, but: 1) Wants to be normal. Like her sister. And be less freaked out by everything. 2) Feels like sex is this radiation that’s surrounding her everywhere all the time, and so she subconsciously wants to take control of it when she’s able to. In a -If this is going to happen, it might as well happen in my terms way. - I will add too, that just because something feels good physically, it doesn’t mean that you secretly want to do it -for the interpretation of the hands hallway scene. Just thought I’d add my thoughts, as I can see my experiences as a neurodivergent woman reflected in Carol’s. Although I doubt they were written this way on purpose.
Oh my gosh yes you expressed so well what I took from this film! Just mimicking what you think is the 'correct' behavior, all the while disintegrating internally
As a woman, with cptsd, bpd,mdd, and severe panic disorder, I loved this video essay. Even though he found her a pretty woman, i felt she depicted a true sense of terrifyingly confusing it is for someone who possibly was SAed, to have to adapt around men. For the longest time, I had a fear, almost repulsion, of men, even if they were good because so many have violated me. I dissociate and it isnt romantic, its dangerous. I feel like someone like me cant be loved. Its a weird life. ❤ Please keep posting videos❤
This movie in a weird way showcased exactly what I was feeling as a teenager after several instances of random men groping me in public places. I developed a fear of men, mostly middle-aged just like the ones who groped me. At some point I started feeling not just scared, but also nauseous thinking about men. It went away eventually and I'm in good relationship now, but this movie caused me to "research" androphobia and experiences similar to mine which helped a lot in feeling that I wasn't alone in this.
@@witchywomen6650 The patriarchy is to blame, women deemed rootable enough, yet respectable enough to take home to meet the family, all others are invisible, or called dogs, or even men to degrade them.
I watched repulsion and the tenant for the first time this month. Repulsion struck an intimate cord with me. Despite not having experienced any traumatic encounters with men, i find myself feeling this same sort of repulsion/fear/attraction/curiosity towards them as a whole. I assume it stems from hearing of other women's less than desirable experiences with men.
This is ridiculous, this is like me saying "I watched pretty woman yesterday, and it really struck a intimate cord with me. Despite not having experienced romantic affairs with escorts, i find myself feeling this same sort of elation/love/disgust/indifference towards them". I picture you as jaded as a turtle without a shell. Please do yourself a favor, go outside and talk to a man and just have pleasant conversation, and stop recording instagram lives of famous ppl for clout or whatever the hell it is you do it for.
Similar to Carrie and Pearl, this movie brings the idea that female private/individual desires and that said individual personality always have to somehow take a bow to the masculine and patriarchal "normality", and if not, the ending would be even sadder.
Nonsense. No one is forcing her to take a bow to patriarchal normality, she is not normal in any way, she is mentally ill and that is spawning misandry and repulsion toward men and sex. That film is a portrayal of a mental illness, not some feministic stance toward what you think is "patriarchal normality".
I just watched a film called A Question of Silence. It's a 1982 Dutch film and it was really very good. I bring it up because it fits your comment perfectly. If you ever see it available,you should give it a watch!
I been in love with your videos forever. Being a woman who survived being a child of domestic abuse and child abuse has been my introduction to men. Having my first sexual experience and almost kidnapped in very close time to each other has been crazy. All different men separate from each other has grown my fear of men. This video is crazy how it mirrors my experience. Love your videos and will continue supporting 🥺❤️
I just wanted to say you're not alone, and I wish you well. I'm a survivor of child abuse/kidnapped then abandoned by my father/DV survivor - but we're still here. This film struck a chord with me, too. I hope you have an amazing life. ❤
You're not alone - almost HALF of little girls to old ladies, will look you in the eye...and you know. She knows the same pain - too many of us know how it feels. We have to protect everyone's daughters - care about them, pay attention, report it - DO something. I think boys should be taught at puberty never to force girls, I think it's three minutes for them - compared to the recieving end of a life-long sentence for the girl.
Go join the other virtue signalers, I will be watching Psycho, Caligula, Clockwork Orange, Lolita, Belle de Jour, Jim'll Fix It and playing some Garry glitter and Rolf Harris records after.
I think this video is great. Honestly it's revealing that Polanski controlled his lead actress's sex life, maternity and actively tried to break her down. Polanski has skill in filmmaking and so do the many creatives that have worked with him. But it's telling that he felt he was creating a film about a 'bizare problematic person' and that so many have read it as a story of trauma and pain. Polanski is a cruel figure that may genuinely not view women as human, but his films are not his alone and are open to interpretation. There's no need to watch any of his works due to the inadvertent monetary support but I also see a beauty in reclaiming great pieces of art.
There are no words to properly describe how unbelievable this is to me. Just a couple of months ago I watched this movie and got deeply disturbed by it, but found not a single video essay covering it, nor a forum with any remarkable discussion about it, NOTHING. And now this video was suggested to me, almost like a gift, finally. I can’t wait to watch this when I get home❤❤
I think this hits a little too close to home for me. I was S/Ad at a very young age. I have trauma. My childhood was chaotic to say the least. I’m somewhat emotionally stunted. There are moments where I age regress and I can’t help it. It just happens. I don’t know how to take care of myself. I have a very morbid imagination. I have a lot of emotional barriers, especially towards strangers. I don’t hate men necessarily. Luckily my dad was a really good role model in my life, but I HATE dealing with random men I don’t know in the streets. I hate being approached. I don’t want to be perceived as an object of sex for anyone. Like Carol, I have weird delusions and I tend to disassociate whenever my emotions get unbearable. Unlike carol, I am extroverted and generally do well in public situations. It’s when I’m alone that I start to get crazy. Like carol, all alone in my apartment reliving traumas and thinking of the worst case scenarios.
Just found another new favorite movie. Because this is exactly what it feels like being a survivor of child hood trauma/ assault You feel nothing but repulsion
I definitely think it’s not anyone’s place to judge anyone else’s consumption. I personally realized - yesterday, actually - that I can no longer separate the art and the artist. Usually, whatever awful thing they did offends me. If I knew them in real life and it would bother me then, it bothers me to consume their art (though it’s worst when they are the face of something, an actor or the like, who we are sposed to see a lot, opposed to a painter or musician). I respect people who can do it, I just can’t. 🤷🏻
I have a very hard time separating the two. I try to remember that, for instance, this movie, was a product of several people and not just Polanski….but it’s difficult still.
Carol is like someone who has ptsd from childhood sa trauma, like me 🤯 I feel like people in my day to day sometimes perceive me the same way people do carol
10:28 The proximity of a convent to Carol's living space might play a deeper significance with respect to her preference for women-only spaces. A Belgian woman of this time period likely attended a school run by nuns. Her child-like mannerisms could betray a longing for the insulation of youthful innocence and safety.
I watched this film when I was 17 years old it was so hard for me because i was still struggling with my own trauma at the time i did understand carol in ways when it comes to separating art from the artist in i just can't in certain cases
This movie is great. As an asexual, someone who is not a typical woman, the ending.... Her surrender into becoming an object. Thats something I fear, and something that fuels my deep rage. Your choice is to surrender and become objectified or become isolated. There is no in-between. To be apart of this society, a patriarchy, is to be objectified. Both genders are boiled down to what we can do for "society". I think one of the clear differences between this character and myself is simply that I have a strong sense of self. I struggle with the conflict of wanting relationships with people, but finding my strong personality is considered "abnormal" or "unacceptable" from society. Im okay not wanting sex, it's other people who have an issue... She wants to be like the others and wonders why she isnt. She wants to fit in yet her body physically rejects it. Ultimately, she had to detach herself from her own body to cope, to make it stop the odd behavior so she could finally be the sexual object society wanted.
So you have a problem with biology? Everyone is only seen as something useful, even parents only take care of children either because they want someone to inherit their legacy or because they’re part of the bloodline. Nobody is exempt from this kind of objectification. The real question is why do you see it as a problem? Why does your moral compass advocate for? I bet you are the type to believe in abortion too which contradicts this so I’m interested in hearing how you justify it
@@harsh3948 biology is also responsible for cells turning cancerous, so I don't think that anything "natural" is complelety above scrutiny. More than that, what you've presented is quite a bleak description of parenthood, when we should strive for a society that encourages people to have children only as a result of their overflowing love for one another, not as a simple, "medieval" desire to secure the bloodline. Objectification is ever present, indeed, but in this particular case it was specifically sexual objectification, something that is more frequently (almost always?) experienced by women. Any endeavour to justify this biologically, when taken to its logical conclusion, ends up also justifying rape (anything to secure the bloodline?). When talking of objectification, it's not enough to say everyone is subject to it, because they're subject to it accodring to the power dynamics of their gender and social status
@@agrippina1411 Should implies idealism. I see that you aren’t aware of the majority of our past filled with brutality and how we are only a few missteps away from returning back to it. The only way to solve something is to be pragmatic and acknowledge reality. The issue is that I observed this ignorance more among sheltered suburb and city people, which you probably are one of.
@@harsh3948 any ideology or future outlook on society that doesn't have a tinge of idealism isn't revolutionary or very much worth taking into account. Funnily enough, I grew up poor and lived most of my life in a post-communist society filled with insecurity and so far removed from what most people would consider "sheltered". The world was, is and can be a cruel place, but it doesn't have to be that way. Your cynicism can only shelter certain insecurities, but it won't keep you on your high horse forever.
@@agrippina1411 as someone who grew up in a semi socialist 3rd world country myself, i see that you’re committing the a similar mistake which caused communism to rise in the first place: idealistic zealotry. The problem with being idealistic is you will eventually come across a situation which will force you to at least question or even go against your morality in order to achieve your idealistic goals specifically because they are unrealistic.
I think it would be beyond deeply naive to 'separate the art from the artist' in all cases, most glaringly this one. I don't think we can trust this man on anything he says about women. He r*ped a child over hours and hours and hours and hours in a hot tub as she kept crying and trying to get away. He is sick. And she's not the only one he did this to. And just imagine: could it be that Roman Polanski is fully aware of what he did to this child and he is now imploring us in his sickness by showing his awareness and joy of what he has done to children in this fiction film? I think in the case of Polanski it is not unwise to consider extreme depths of depravity of his person.
yeah, i totally agree. there should be a line somewhere. at a certain point, covering Polanski's art is condoning his actions. like just saying 'i don't support his actions' doesn't excuse actively choosing to dedicate time and energy to analyses the quality of his work over let's say Emily Bronte. no sane person is legitamately gonna say 'i do support his sexual torture of a 13yo'. there's a reason most pedophiles don't think they've done anything wrong. that's how these predators get away with this stuff. it's the same logic as 'but he has such a promising future, we can't let that one night taint his life'. which i think child sexual abuse and torture is absolutely one of the acts that should forever taint a person's life. unfortunately for woman, Polanski makes movies ppl wanna watch and enjoy, so his art outweighs the destruction he's cause so he can do whatever he wants apparently
I can’t stand Polanski as a person. But these aren’t his films. They’re Catherine Deneuve’s work, Mia Farrow’s work, etc. I’m not interested in Polanski and choose to ignore his presence. I don’t want everybody else involved in these films to suffer because of him. That gives him too much authority. The end of this film gave me the impression, the way the camera pans over the photos, that Carol was abused by her father.
Although this movie is an interesting look at female trauma the Polanski element is what keeps me from completely buying into it. It is a movie about female trauma from a man’s point of view since it was written and directed by Polanski. The added separation of it is that it is written and directed by a male predator. I would enjoy a remake to see it from a truly female point of view such as a female writer/director.
Although I totally agree with you, I think that since that wasn’t his purpose of it anyways, it’s fully viewed this way from actual women and not Polanski. I sort of like to think of it as women taking the movie away from him and not allowing his interpretation to be true. I’ve never seen this movie and probably never will, though, for the same reason; so I understand where you’re coming from.
Romański was a Polish immigrant and as a Polish person myself - we sometimes refer to delusions as „fantasies” so I wouldn’t pay this choice of wording too much importance. But ofc he still was a horrible predator.
theres a repulsion ive always felt with sexuality ever since i was young and a deep envy for how comfortable other women were with it that i couldnt grasp even with lying to myself and i often link that to the whole realizing i was trans thing, that i wanted to be seen as myself but i didnt know who that self was or why even though i wanted to be liked by and around men i was disgusted in a way i could never correct whenever they told me they liked me romantically, i could never figure out what it was especially since i did know i was romantically interested in them it just took me a while to realize what i was really disgusted with was the reality of my own self and what others saw as me.
Re "i was really disgusted with was the reality of my own self and what others saw as me" - how can you tell that this indicates you're a man as opposed to someone who just doesn't like being objectified/sexualized the way society tends to objectify women?
@@pooscifer Exactly. There were times where I imagined myself as a man or what it might be like. But, I very much enjoy being a woman and wouldn’t have it any other way. I think apart of it had to do with my jealousy over the certain advantages that came with being a man as opposed to actually wanting to be one. Now, thats not to say that men don’t suffer through their own fair share of problems and struggles.
When i watched the movie i felt like the director knew what he was doing, i was amazed by how he understood the repulsion and the objectification of women. I thought he understood the victims mentality all too well. And i started to search about him and i was shocked by what i found out. The reason of his deep understanding was obvious.
I had a fear of men at 16. If i saw a man was walking down the street even at a good distance, I would be so scared I would crossed the road. This was in daylight too.This happened a lot . But then sexual abuse can do that to a person.... fortunately I'm over it now .
This is the first video of yours I’ve seen. Your analysis of the film was very insightful in my opinion and resonated with me a lot. This definitely won’t be the last video of yours I watch
Maybe Roman wished to portray Carol as childlike because that's how he sees women. No surprise there at a man posing for Polanski as the only effective adult, the saviour, the real desire of Carol. Roman is as ridiculous as we could expect
This movie makes me feel uncomfortable like roman knew what goes in a victims mind the repulsion the distance is rational yet he committed those crimes. like that thought that maybe he abused the girls because he is a person who lacks empathy is wrong he can put himself in his victims shoes thats what is abhorrent
i agree. it bothers and annoys me they still have their works propped up as so amazing when there's tons of other good or borderline unknown people who deserve recognition.
No, they both are great great filmmakers. Their movies are a huge part of the world's cinema history. These movies are absolutely amazing. There is nothing you can do about it.
If my grapist made a movie, i don’t care how great it is i wouldn’t go see it and it would be awful seeing him being praised and getting rich through his work when he deserves hell or at least prison.
That is so valid. It is all very well adopting these ideas that you can separate the art from the artist, but what about the victim? How do they think and feel whenever their abuser is not only brought up, but idolised, their crime against them diminished as something that can be so easily put aside. For the victim it cannot. Maybe sometimes you just have to adopt the moral high ground and turn away from something and side with the victim.
That she is catatonic in the ending also just drives home that she cant do anything else than conform anymore. She cant do anything at all, she is left at the mercy of her surroundings, which will inevitebly mold her to conform
I have not finished the video but I just cannot separate Polanski from his actions and give no credence to his films that are supposedly sympathetic to their female protagonists. He seems to see women and men as separate species, no matter how many attempts seem to be made to ‘understand’ women. And for him to be considered some sort of authority on gender for his time, not necessarily in this video but in terms of Hollywoods regard of him, is disgusting. Watch the numerous films by women that have been buried by the promotion of the work of sex offenders.
Besides this one, the only other movie ive seen that was so impactful to me when it came to showcasing a woman's repulsion towards men was the 2008 korean film "Beautiful". If you're looking for another movie to do a video essay on, I think that one would be another interesting choice. It would basically be the exact opposite of the All The Boys Love Mandy Lane video topic of Manipulative Beauty.
It seems like an interesting point here is how carols' deterioration is fed by her society's assumptions of who she must be, rather than who she is. For whatever reason, she has phobia of male sexual relationship, but her world gives her the message that being able to not only copewith men, but connect with them sexually without trauma is the only way to grow into a ful woman. Could shemaybe live in the convent, entirely immersed in a culture of women? No, even then, a certain ammount of ability to deal with men is necessary to becoming adult, and it isn't fair to expect the nuns to work out where her phobia stems from and how to resolve it. Still, you'd think her sister would know enough to realize that Carol is not capable of adult responcibility at home and put her in the care of someone who can handle those basics and reassure her. It all speaks to this vulnerability of women with mental health issues whp remain sexually quite immature, but who receive difforent feedback from the world about how they should behave as their bodiies become sexually adult and are often abusively forced into sexualised roles or abused, by men who are taking advantage of their incompetence and inability to conceive of sexuality and romance in fully adult ways. One of the major problems here is men being attracted to women who seem dependent, unsavvy and child-like -- wanting to be noble protectors and sexual liberators before they register whether sex is actually the liberation an attractive woman wants or needs.
The problem on the male side is that (at least in this case) the guys who assume attraction when the response is neutral and not a complete NO or rejection, is more often than not they get rewarded for it if they choose to proceed further. Thus women who were victims of childhood abuse like the one portrayed in this film that have trouble with being assertive, unfortunately fall through such cracks. I can see two solutions to this problem: You can either educate more men about expecting explicit consent before initiating anything physical, but then you will have either to deal with the women that reward the opposite behavior first. Or give up and simply focus on getting professional help to such victims instead
Personally i think this is about comphet,the way she felt when the man kissed her and the way the man felt when the other man kissed him is what sold that for me
2:37 I wonder if Polanski was talking about Mia Farrow when discussing the female friend. The description of the friend immediately made me think of her with the striking beauty, as well as the innocent and demure nature.
Polansky's own history proves that Carol is not wrong. If you cannot stand to watch a Polansky film because he's a child abuser, remember Woody Allen and all the films Harvey Weinstein produced, many, many audience favorites and award recpients. Life is complicated.
The first time I see the movie a feel a connection and at the point of my life I share a loot similarities cause I was living whit my sister and the apartment that as well have this cracks on the walls and you can hear who the sound at night who slowly appear more, I was working in a beauty salon, and feel terrified about men trying to date me o talk to me y have a couple of friends girls or gays, feel a deeply mirror of myself and understand of Carol and the movie repulsion, obviously at the end I go to therapy confront my abuse and trauma and heal of it.
I don't know that "comply and conform" is anything but a bitter message when you've seen nothing but the opposite growing up and expected to just be 'normal' when your traumas prevent that despite your own efforts. That aside though, really good video essay!
I love this movie! I was excited to see someone talking about it! I can identify with many of Carol's feelings of disgust at society around her. I feel like Carol definitely shouldn't have been left alone, and her sister seemed to know it was probably not a great idea, but the way Carol Pleaded for her not to go, shouldn't have been ignored! 😢
This is the first video I have seen of you (Maybe) And I am already in love. I learned some new words and have gained a perspective I had not seen from yet. Thank you! :) I have experiences similar to the things of this move tries to represent and I think you did a wonderful job analyzing it.
I know this isn’t related to the video but, I just watched your video on Courtney Love and I fell in love with your content and voice-because it’s so soothing.
"Let's separate the art from the artist. Anyway, here's a movie about a woman whose life has been ruined by SA and she's CRAZY because she doesn't want men to touch her. Oh and did I mention she secretly craves the SA?"
Pls pls pls pls do a full vid on the virgin suicides, you’ve mentioned the film a few times in other vids but i feel like you would do an amazing job at at doing it justice🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
i think with the whole "separating the art from the artist" thing, it depends on their work. with bands like mindless self indulgence, or like the director victor salva, their work can be blatantly about, or even featuring the victims of their crimes, and i feel thats a situation where the separation gets weird, because you are listening to a song about the lead singer wanting to touch kids with complete sincerity. musicians like mr kitty and borns didnt make their work relating to their crimes, so i personally think the separation is fine there. but honestly, as long as you consume their work ethically [pirating], its fine. people in real life arent gonna get angry with you because you like the shining even though kubrick is a bad guy. watch what you want, if the director is a piece of shit and still alive, pirate the movie. if theyre dead, great! watch the movie you wanna watch
I watched this movie a few days ago, it was like reliving the pandemic for me. I was sa years ago and when im alone for long time my mind go to places.
Wow, there's a lot of places where you could start a whole ass conversation about what is wrong here but also quite a few places where they got it surprisingly right.
Great film but should we morally support a predator? I don't think it's possible to separate the art from the artist. It is a reflection of them. *Polaski was convicted* of his crimes, it was not alleged, he was proven guilty. I love the surrealism of Carol's perspective however this film was very r-a-p-e-y and then learning how Polanski treated his lead actress makes me dislike him even more.
I feel like it's okay to like something created by a person, who's LATER revealed to be the worst kind of persom, if it was created before that revelation, OR if there's no monetary gain for the creator. But, in general, the thought of giving money or support to person who's known for, for example, child abuse or any other abuse of a person is SUPER absurd and fucked up to me. - I don't want them to live comfortably and to me it also seems enabling.
Great video as always, but I cannot be the only gay thinking Carol is a massive closet case?? Idk I feel myself really relating to her whenever I watch the movie! The fact Polanski unintentionally made one of the best pieces of lesbian cinema sure is something
Dang. You almost got me at the end with thinking plot-twist: ,,Oh WAIT , Michael is a good guy - he is the only rational person , he carries Carol outside , he is the man; then the real end comes and Im like.......why didn;t I see that coming?
It is interesting to me that Polanski could in part create this film which can be viewed through one end of a lens shaped by experiencing the world under the scrutiny and objectification of the male gaze and its very real dangers and have a lot of thought-provoking conversation come from it and even understanding and recognition in Carol's story, but also all the more disturbing and sickening to me when I think of the other end of the lens through which Polanski seems to have scrutinized the actress---turning her also into an object that could be the vehicle for His art and His success in this endeavor, provoking her emotionally, disrespecting her very reasonable wishes to spend some time with her newborn and partner, even fighting her on her hard boundaries about being filmed nude and what she could have underneath her nightgown in a scene portraying an attempted violent assault. It's like he was able to sort of comprehend how women would see this art and use it to intrigue but ultimately still viewed the experiences being examined in the film as divorced from the full human spectrum of feelings and emotions attached to them. Sort of an early version of self-righteous men who regard themselves as "good guys who Get It about feminism" and yet are oblivious to their own constant misogyny and disregard for women's genuine experience being around them. Or subjected to them in relationships or employ. Telling.
I think as others have said here, it’s fine to say you can separate art from the artist but it’s incredibly ironic that a man like him made this film. At least the fact that he frames it as something being “wrong” with her matches up with what kind of a person he is. I think it would actually be worse if he were more on the side of her actions being justified because that would just make him a hypocrite. Anyways, great analysis thank you for sharing
i once went to the dentist and they had little TVs in each room. the one in my room was playing this movie. i watched it on mute and still loved it (obligatory fuck-roman-polanski message bc seriously fuck that pig) but man what a surreal way to first see it. of course i did end up watching it normally with the sound on later haha
the irony of roman polanski making that film...
Someone left a review in Letterbox saying : "This is an effective movie because who else, but a predator could capture on film the sheer terror a woman feels when she’s abused." And I couldn't agree more because indeed who else would know how a girl's world crumbles when she's forced to become a woman after being violated and trapped in the box shaped by what the blood she bleeds every month tells men and society about her, a man who violated the world of a 13 yo girl would portray that with great satisfaction even if one would think about it ...
@@Yasmin-jt1uxI would say that the woman herself knows better than the predator.
@@caitlinroseblaney226 i agree
@@Yasmin-jt1ux I agree but you don't stop being a girl just because a man decided to rape you, you're still a girl, there's this weird idea that getting your period or having sex is what makes you a woman and it's completely wrong
It's called projection.
The first man Carol killed broke into her apartment. The second was actively attempting to assault her. She acted only in self-defense and did nothing wrong.
Bah, that's her side of the story.
@@wolfgangkranek376okay incel
@@wolfgangkranek376 i disagree, Polanski says "she did it for rational reasons" when explaining why they scrapped the murder of the woman after the first man. If it was a distorted point of view, they could simply distort her experience with the woman as well.
@@rhukkyo_ ...... TEHRE'S MORE TO THIS STORY!
Says the obvious villains. They don't want you to defend yourself. They're not stupid, they are playing dumb, and the whole point is for you to submit If you don't, you're not playing by their sadistic game's "rules, you have denied their brothers sustenance (aka, your victimhood), so you must pay. They do that in one way by denying the reality of the situation as a taunt, if you notice, and it happens all over the world each and every day. Don't forget, they know what they're doing.
So the first was basically castle doctrine?
"Repulsion" is a perfect description of how I feel when I think about Roman Polanski.
this is a case of takes one to know one
If you don't like something then stop complaining. Problem solved.
@@peopleofearth6250
Then stop complaining and move on.
Criticizing Roman's behavior is a topic we're allowed to discuss.
@@peopleofearth6250 I don't like rape. If I stop complaining about rape, will people stop raping? Nope. Problem still exists.
@@UsenameTakenWasTaken If you feel that way then stop complaining. Life isn't about you. It's about other people. You aren't other people.
I want to address this whole "separating the art from the artist" issue because I feel like it's become a big topic lately, with a lot of great artists being outed as awful people. Separating the art from the artist does not mean ignoring or endorsing the artist's wrongdoings for the sake of entertainment. It just means to enjoy their art from a critical perspective with the awareness that the artist did something wrong.
Absolutely, but I think we should all remember that when we are talking about separating the art from the artist, we're not talking about their projects or creativity. We're talking about them as a person, so their art has no bearing nor does it make up for a lack of character or predatory behavior.
And also he didn't make the movie all alone, lots of other creatives that had nothing to do with his bad behavior didn't deserve to have their work diminished bc of him.
I agree, i also think depending on what level the artist insert themself in their art, it would be dificult to actually enjoy their art. For example, Alex Marshall (vocalist of the band Daughters) has been acused of abusing his ex partner (Lingua Ignota's singer), which includes breaking her back during... well, you can imagine.
I can't for the life of me listen to any of his work ever again due to that. 😕 but yeah, i don't want to judge anyone that still have their records.
People have diferent ways to interpret art and i just can't separate the art from the artist most of the time. Is getting even more dificult to listen to various male bands after so many allegations have been brought to light after the #metoo movement.
I used to feel the same exact way -- and I still want to -- but now whenever I look at an artists' work, I think, "He's so talented. I hope he's not a PDF file." Or, "He seems like a nice person. I hope there are no bodies in his basement." It's gotten to the point where I just want everyone to behave. I'm so tired of men like the diddler.
Can't stand the seperate the art from the artist drones. Make it make some sense at least
I feel so seen by this movie: the isolation from moving to a new place, ocd tendencies, asexual nature with a dark sexual appetite and then the self defensive stabbing that I dream about pretty often. I just want to feel light
Same 👍🏻
Sammeeee
You put it perfectly
Asexual nature with dark sexual appetite?? What??
@@happilyevernever4289 By “dark sexual appetite,” she is likely referring to Carol’s general curiosity toward men as evidenced by her sniffing male clothing, kissing her suitor after pondering it further, watching sexual imagery on TV, having allegorical sexual fantasies, and so on. And as for”asexual nature,” that’s pretty self-explanatory. Despite her curiosity, Carol still finds it repulsive in practice. Even something to be feared. Makes perfect sense to me. The push-and-pull of having sexual desire for men but being terrifyingly afraid of the threat men can pose. At least that’s how I interpreted her comment.
i like to think she’s living happily with the nuns in the convent
I don’t think the police are gonna look the other way about the… you know… Murders
The way Roman exploited his control over Catherine by making her see her husband on her period and keeping her from her baby. Predatory filmmakers in every way
Right !!
That just angered me so much , and wanting her to appear naked or semi nude
And when she refuses , he then hopes she will wear this super see-through night gown, and she still asks for something under it, trying to do her job without having to overstep her boundaries like she was already being made to do .
And what even is the point of having her only see her husband while on her period ??
Does he think her being on her period would make her husband not desire her ?
And the whole Playboy thing 🤦♀️ like dude how does that have anything to do with the movie.
He disgusts me and irks me with his ✨️ in the name of art ✨️ he behaves and treats women the way he does.
It's no surprise he would want to make a movie like this .
@@mariec3527 Why all of the long spaces in your comment?
also about the roman situation: his movies aren't just *his*. there are so much more people involved, and to enjoy those movies doesn't mean you agree or enjoy what he did.
oh my god i love the “men”trigger warning😭
I cackled!😂
Lmaooo same
I’d like to offer an alternative interpretation. What if Carol doesn’t secretly want sex, but:
1) Wants to be normal. Like her sister. And be less freaked out by everything.
2) Feels like sex is this radiation that’s surrounding her everywhere all the time, and so she subconsciously wants to take control of it when she’s able to. In a -If this is going to happen, it might as well happen in my terms way. -
I will add too, that just because something feels good physically, it doesn’t mean that you secretly want to do it -for the interpretation of the hands hallway scene.
Just thought I’d add my thoughts, as I can see my experiences as a neurodivergent woman reflected in Carol’s. Although I doubt they were written this way on purpose.
Oh my gosh yes you expressed so well what I took from this film! Just mimicking what you think is the 'correct' behavior, all the while disintegrating internally
best take I've seen so far
Youre so right
.
I’m neurodivergent & cried listening to this video. It hurts realising that this is how people perceive me.
As a woman, with cptsd, bpd,mdd, and severe panic disorder, I loved this video essay. Even though he found her a pretty woman, i felt she depicted a true sense of terrifyingly confusing it is for someone who possibly was SAed, to have to adapt around men. For the longest time, I had a fear, almost repulsion, of men, even if they were good because so many have violated me. I dissociate and it isnt romantic, its dangerous. I feel like someone like me cant be loved. Its a weird life. ❤ Please keep posting videos❤
Yes
This movie in a weird way showcased exactly what I was feeling as a teenager after several instances of random men groping me in public places. I developed a fear of men, mostly middle-aged just like the ones who groped me. At some point I started feeling not just scared, but also nauseous thinking about men. It went away eventually and I'm in good relationship now, but this movie caused me to "research" androphobia and experiences similar to mine which helped a lot in feeling that I wasn't alone in this.
I felt the same way when I was a teenager do to what I went through as a child
I'm glad that you're doing better now
Yup most of us go thru this due to abuse. It's only natural.
.
@@witchywomen6650 The patriarchy is to blame, women deemed rootable enough, yet respectable enough to take home to meet the family, all others are invisible, or called dogs, or even men to degrade them.
I watched repulsion and the tenant for the first time this month. Repulsion struck an intimate cord with me. Despite not having experienced any traumatic encounters with men, i find myself feeling this same sort of repulsion/fear/attraction/curiosity towards them as a whole. I assume it stems from hearing of other women's less than desirable experiences with men.
So.....imaginary. You know their stories are lies as well right?
But, cats for you.
@@jackdeniston6150 Im really tired of this Angry-Virginal-Pussified Men Vs Entitled-Paranoid-Victimized Women rhetoric on the internet.
This is ridiculous, this is like me saying "I watched pretty woman yesterday, and it really struck a intimate cord with me. Despite not having experienced romantic affairs with escorts, i find myself feeling this same sort of elation/love/disgust/indifference towards them". I picture you as jaded as a turtle without a shell. Please do yourself a favor, go outside and talk to a man and just have pleasant conversation, and stop recording instagram lives of famous ppl for clout or whatever the hell it is you do it for.
@@jackdeniston6150None of my stories are madeup. I have alot of them.
It’s not a bitter sweet message, it’s just bitter.
Similar to Carrie and Pearl, this movie brings the idea that female private/individual desires and that said individual personality always have to somehow take a bow to the masculine and patriarchal "normality", and if not, the ending would be even sadder.
Nonsense. No one is forcing her to take a bow to patriarchal normality, she is not normal in any way, she is mentally ill and that is spawning misandry and repulsion toward men and sex. That film is a portrayal of a mental illness, not some feministic stance toward what you think is "patriarchal normality".
I just watched a film called A Question of Silence. It's a 1982 Dutch film and it was really very good. I bring it up because it fits your comment perfectly. If you ever see it available,you should give it a watch!
@@kittenface8577 oh, I will definitely search! Thank u
I been in love with your videos forever. Being a woman who survived being a child of domestic abuse and child abuse has been my introduction to men. Having my first sexual experience and almost kidnapped in very close time to each other has been crazy. All different men separate from each other has grown my fear of men. This video is crazy how it mirrors my experience. Love your videos and will continue supporting 🥺❤️
I just wanted to say you're not alone, and I wish you well. I'm a survivor of child abuse/kidnapped then abandoned by my father/DV survivor - but we're still here. This film struck a chord with me, too. I hope you have an amazing life. ❤
You're not alone - almost HALF of little girls to old ladies, will look you in the eye...and you know. She knows the same pain - too many of us know how it feels. We have to protect everyone's daughters - care about them, pay attention, report it - DO something. I think boys should be taught at puberty never to force girls, I think it's three minutes for them - compared to the recieving end of a life-long sentence for the girl.
This movie has the best depiction of trauma I have ever seen and knowing what I know about the directorI can’t ever watch it again
its like he knows the effects of predatory behaviour. Knows exactly how it effects people and yet …
Go join the other virtue signalers, I will be watching Psycho, Caligula, Clockwork Orange, Lolita, Belle de Jour, Jim'll Fix It and playing some Garry glitter and Rolf Harris records after.
I think this video is great. Honestly it's revealing that Polanski controlled his lead actress's sex life, maternity and actively tried to break her down. Polanski has skill in filmmaking and so do the many creatives that have worked with him. But it's telling that he felt he was creating a film about a 'bizare problematic person' and that so many have read it as a story of trauma and pain. Polanski is a cruel figure that may genuinely not view women as human, but his films are not his alone and are open to interpretation. There's no need to watch any of his works due to the inadvertent monetary support but I also see a beauty in reclaiming great pieces of art.
There are no words to properly describe how unbelievable this is to me. Just a couple of months ago I watched this movie and got deeply disturbed by it, but found not a single video essay covering it, nor a forum with any remarkable discussion about it, NOTHING. And now this video was suggested to me, almost like a gift, finally. I can’t wait to watch this when I get home❤❤
I think this hits a little too close to home for me. I was S/Ad at a very young age. I have trauma. My childhood was chaotic to say the least. I’m somewhat emotionally stunted. There are moments where I age regress and I can’t help it. It just happens. I don’t know how to take care of myself. I have a very morbid imagination. I have a lot of emotional barriers, especially towards strangers. I don’t hate men necessarily. Luckily my dad was a really good role model in my life, but I HATE dealing with random men I don’t know in the streets. I hate being approached. I don’t want to be perceived as an object of sex for anyone. Like Carol, I have weird delusions and I tend to disassociate whenever my emotions get unbearable. Unlike carol, I am extroverted and generally do well in public situations. It’s when I’m alone that I start to get crazy. Like carol, all alone in my apartment reliving traumas and thinking of the worst case scenarios.
Just found another new favorite movie.
Because this is exactly what it feels like being a survivor of child hood trauma/ assault
You feel nothing but repulsion
I definitely think it’s not anyone’s place to judge anyone else’s consumption. I personally realized - yesterday, actually - that I can no longer separate the art and the artist. Usually, whatever awful thing they did offends me. If I knew them in real life and it would bother me then, it bothers me to consume their art (though it’s worst when they are the face of something, an actor or the like, who we are sposed to see a lot, opposed to a painter or musician). I respect people who can do it, I just can’t. 🤷🏻
Having said all that, this video was super interesting and very informative, thank you!
I have a very hard time separating the two. I try to remember that, for instance, this movie, was a product of several people and not just Polanski….but it’s difficult still.
Carol is like someone who has ptsd from childhood sa trauma, like me 🤯 I feel like people in my day to day sometimes perceive me the same way people do carol
The fact he hit the effects of trauma right on the nose .
says that he's been one to act or bear Witness to such traumas.
Considering how he was so good at manipulating the actress to do his bidding, definitely the former
This is not true at all.
It shows that an abuser knows the effect that their actions have on women and do it for that reason
I love this movie so much! It is a most eloquent reminder that reality is not as stable as we think it is, and can disintegrate around us at any time.
10:28 The proximity of a convent to Carol's living space might play a deeper significance with respect to her preference for women-only spaces.
A Belgian woman of this time period likely attended a school run by nuns. Her child-like mannerisms could betray a longing for the insulation of youthful innocence and safety.
Almost like something she had taken from her as a child.
She longs for it agian
I watched this film when I was 17 years old it was so hard for me because i was still struggling with my own trauma at the time i did understand carol in ways when it comes to separating art from the artist in i just can't in certain cases
Cry and pearl clutch harder, one may yet get the gold star and best posi available in heaven. 😂
This movie is great. As an asexual, someone who is not a typical woman, the ending.... Her surrender into becoming an object. Thats something I fear, and something that fuels my deep rage. Your choice is to surrender and become objectified or become isolated. There is no in-between. To be apart of this society, a patriarchy, is to be objectified. Both genders are boiled down to what we can do for "society". I think one of the clear differences between this character and myself is simply that I have a strong sense of self. I struggle with the conflict of wanting relationships with people, but finding my strong personality is considered "abnormal" or "unacceptable" from society. Im okay not wanting sex, it's other people who have an issue... She wants to be like the others and wonders why she isnt. She wants to fit in yet her body physically rejects it. Ultimately, she had to detach herself from her own body to cope, to make it stop the odd behavior so she could finally be the sexual object society wanted.
So you have a problem with biology? Everyone is only seen as something useful, even parents only take care of children either because they want someone to inherit their legacy or because they’re part of the bloodline.
Nobody is exempt from this kind of objectification. The real question is why do you see it as a problem?
Why does your moral compass advocate for? I bet you are the type to believe in abortion too which contradicts this so I’m interested in hearing how you justify it
@@harsh3948 biology is also responsible for cells turning cancerous, so I don't think that anything "natural" is complelety above scrutiny.
More than that, what you've presented is quite a bleak description of parenthood, when we should strive for a society that encourages people to have children only as a result of their overflowing love for one another, not as a simple, "medieval" desire to secure the bloodline.
Objectification is ever present, indeed, but in this particular case it was specifically sexual objectification, something that is more frequently (almost always?) experienced by women. Any endeavour to justify this biologically, when taken to its logical conclusion, ends up also justifying rape (anything to secure the bloodline?). When talking of objectification, it's not enough to say everyone is subject to it, because they're subject to it accodring to the power dynamics of their gender and social status
@@agrippina1411 Should implies idealism. I see that you aren’t aware of the majority of our past filled with brutality and how we are only a few missteps away from returning back to it. The only way to solve something is to be pragmatic and acknowledge reality.
The issue is that I observed this ignorance more among sheltered suburb and city people, which you probably are one of.
@@harsh3948 any ideology or future outlook on society that doesn't have a tinge of idealism isn't revolutionary or very much worth taking into account.
Funnily enough, I grew up poor and lived most of my life in a post-communist society filled with insecurity and so far removed from what most people would consider "sheltered". The world was, is and can be a cruel place, but it doesn't have to be that way. Your cynicism can only shelter certain insecurities, but it won't keep you on your high horse forever.
@@agrippina1411 as someone who grew up in a semi socialist 3rd world country myself, i see that you’re committing the a similar mistake which caused communism to rise in the first place: idealistic zealotry.
The problem with being idealistic is you will eventually come across a situation which will force you to at least question or even go against your morality in order to achieve your idealistic goals specifically because they are unrealistic.
I think it would be beyond deeply naive to 'separate the art from the artist' in all cases, most glaringly this one. I don't think we can trust this man on anything he says about women. He r*ped a child over hours and hours and hours and hours in a hot tub as she kept crying and trying to get away. He is sick. And she's not the only one he did this to. And just imagine: could it be that Roman Polanski is fully aware of what he did to this child and he is now imploring us in his sickness by showing his awareness and joy of what he has done to children in this fiction film? I think in the case of Polanski it is not unwise to consider extreme depths of depravity of his person.
yeah, i totally agree. there should be a line somewhere. at a certain point, covering Polanski's art is condoning his actions. like just saying 'i don't support his actions' doesn't excuse actively choosing to dedicate time and energy to analyses the quality of his work over let's say Emily Bronte. no sane person is legitamately gonna say 'i do support his sexual torture of a 13yo'. there's a reason most pedophiles don't think they've done anything wrong.
that's how these predators get away with this stuff. it's the same logic as 'but he has such a promising future, we can't let that one night taint his life'. which i think child sexual abuse and torture is absolutely one of the acts that should forever taint a person's life. unfortunately for woman, Polanski makes movies ppl wanna watch and enjoy, so his art outweighs the destruction he's cause so he can do whatever he wants apparently
Thank you for this video. I don't understand why is this movie not often talked about. It's one of my favorites
I can’t stand Polanski as a person. But these aren’t his films. They’re Catherine Deneuve’s work, Mia Farrow’s work, etc. I’m not interested in Polanski and choose to ignore his presence. I don’t want everybody else involved in these films to suffer because of him. That gives him too much authority.
The end of this film gave me the impression, the way the camera pans over the photos, that Carol was abused by her father.
Very well said ❤
Although this movie is an interesting look at female trauma the Polanski element is what keeps me from completely buying into it. It is a movie about female trauma from a man’s point of view since it was written and directed by Polanski. The added separation of it is that it is written and directed by a male predator. I would enjoy a remake to see it from a truly female point of view such as a female writer/director.
Although I totally agree with you, I think that since that wasn’t his purpose of it anyways, it’s fully viewed this way from actual women and not Polanski. I sort of like to think of it as women taking the movie away from him and not allowing his interpretation to be true. I’ve never seen this movie and probably never will, though, for the same reason; so I understand where you’re coming from.
It's interesting that while he is clearly showing a woman with PTSD, he is choosing to call it schizophrenia and "a descent into madness"
🤔
absolutely agree
polanski referring to traumatic flashbacks as fantasies checks out..
Romański was a Polish immigrant and as a Polish person myself - we sometimes refer to delusions as „fantasies” so I wouldn’t pay this choice of wording too much importance. But ofc he still was a horrible predator.
theres a repulsion ive always felt with sexuality ever since i was young and a deep envy for how comfortable other women were with it that i couldnt grasp even with lying to myself and i often link that to the whole realizing i was trans thing, that i wanted to be seen as myself but i didnt know who that self was or why even though i wanted to be liked by and around men i was disgusted in a way i could never correct whenever they told me they liked me romantically, i could never figure out what it was especially since i did know i was romantically interested in them it just took me a while to realize what i was really disgusted with was the reality of my own self and what others saw as me.
Re "i was really disgusted with was the reality of my own self and what others saw as me" - how can you tell that this indicates you're a man as opposed to someone who just doesn't like being objectified/sexualized the way society tends to objectify women?
@@pooscifer Exactly. There were times where I imagined myself as a man or what it might be like. But, I very much enjoy being a woman and wouldn’t have it any other way. I think apart of it had to do with my jealousy over the certain advantages that came with being a man as opposed to actually wanting to be one. Now, thats not to say that men don’t suffer through their own fair share of problems and struggles.
I wanna thank you for your videos they are the best part of my day when I get notifications
Okay, you've convinced me I need to watch this move.
I'll be pirating it, of course.
I'm not going to knowingly put money in a predator's pocket.
Yaaazz!! Illegal movie websites here we come!
Who pays for movies lol get a subscription or pirate it
When i watched the movie i felt like the director knew what he was doing, i was amazed by how he understood the repulsion and the objectification of women. I thought he understood the victims mentality all too well. And i started to search about him and i was shocked by what i found out. The reason of his deep understanding was obvious.
I had a fear of men at 16. If i saw a man was walking down the street even at a good distance, I would be so scared I would crossed the road. This was in daylight too.This happened a lot . But then sexual abuse can do that to a person.... fortunately I'm over it now .
This is the first video of yours I’ve seen. Your analysis of the film was very insightful in my opinion and resonated with me a lot. This definitely won’t be the last video of yours I watch
ACCUSATIONS? NO CHARGED AND FLEED. 100% HE DID IT.
youtubers have to say accusations otherwise they can get sued or demonitized
Maybe Roman wished to portray Carol as childlike because that's how he sees women. No surprise there at a man posing for Polanski as the only effective adult, the saviour, the real desire of Carol. Roman is as ridiculous as we could expect
i kid you not every time u post its like christmas to me
This movie makes me feel uncomfortable like roman knew what goes in a victims mind the repulsion the distance is rational yet he committed those crimes. like that thought that maybe he abused the girls because he is a person who lacks empathy is wrong he can put himself in his victims shoes thats what is abhorrent
Polanski is no genius. Neither is Woody Allen. Repulsion is what I feel when I see his name.
Cannot stand Woody Allen why do they all still love that pedo?
i agree. it bothers and annoys me they still have their works propped up as so amazing when there's tons of other good or borderline unknown people who deserve recognition.
Exactly. He made films about his fantasies - women and girls being sexually tortured.
No, they both are great great filmmakers. Their movies are a huge part of the world's cinema history. These movies are absolutely amazing. There is nothing you can do about it.
It's objectively true that Polanski is both a brilliant artist and a loathsome human being.
If my grapist made a movie, i don’t care how great it is i wouldn’t go see it and it would be awful seeing him being praised and getting rich through his work when he deserves hell or at least prison.
That is so valid. It is all very well adopting these ideas that you can separate the art from the artist, but what about the victim? How do they think and feel whenever their abuser is not only brought up, but idolised, their crime against them diminished as something that can be so easily put aside. For the victim it cannot. Maybe sometimes you just have to adopt the moral high ground and turn away from something and side with the victim.
This movie seems fascinating
It is.
It truly is. It's almost hypnotic.
That she is catatonic in the ending also just drives home that she cant do anything else than conform anymore. She cant do anything at all, she is left at the mercy of her surroundings, which will inevitebly mold her to conform
I have not finished the video but I just cannot separate Polanski from his actions and give no credence to his films that are supposedly sympathetic to their female protagonists. He seems to see women and men as separate species, no matter how many attempts seem to be made to ‘understand’ women. And for him to be considered some sort of authority on gender for his time, not necessarily in this video but in terms of Hollywoods regard of him, is disgusting. Watch the numerous films by women that have been buried by the promotion of the work of sex offenders.
It’s just shocking to me that Roman Polanski made movies like Chinatown and this one while being a predator himself. Where’s the self-awareness?
Im repulsed by most men...and afraid...and just genuinely prefer feminine energy
agreed. if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your sexual orientation?
Besides this one, the only other movie ive seen that was so impactful to me when it came to showcasing a woman's repulsion towards men was the 2008 korean film "Beautiful". If you're looking for another movie to do a video essay on, I think that one would be another interesting choice. It would basically be the exact opposite of the All The Boys Love Mandy Lane video topic of Manipulative Beauty.
Thank you for this! I’ve been waiting for a long time to see a good analysis of this movie.
the cracks in the wall and Carol's hallucinations remind me of The Yellow Wallpaper
It seems like an interesting point here is how carols' deterioration is fed by her society's assumptions of who she must be, rather than who she is. For whatever reason, she has phobia of male sexual relationship, but her world gives her the message that being able to not only copewith men, but connect with them sexually without trauma is the only way to grow into a ful woman. Could shemaybe live in the convent, entirely immersed in a culture of women? No, even then, a certain ammount of ability to deal with men is necessary to becoming adult, and it isn't fair to expect the nuns to work out where her phobia stems from and how to resolve it. Still, you'd think her sister would know enough to realize that Carol is not capable of adult responcibility at home and put her in the care of someone who can handle those basics and reassure her.
It all speaks to this vulnerability of women with mental health issues whp remain sexually quite immature, but who receive difforent feedback from the world about how they should behave as their bodiies become sexually adult and are often abusively forced into sexualised roles or abused, by men who are taking advantage of their incompetence and inability to conceive of sexuality and romance in fully adult ways. One of the major problems here is men being attracted to women who seem dependent, unsavvy and child-like -- wanting to be noble protectors and sexual liberators before they register whether sex is actually the liberation an attractive woman wants or needs.
The problem on the male side is that (at least in this case) the guys who assume attraction when the response is neutral and not a complete NO or rejection, is more often than not they get rewarded for it if they choose to proceed further.
Thus women who were victims of childhood abuse like the one portrayed in this film that have trouble with being assertive, unfortunately fall through such cracks.
I can see two solutions to this problem: You can either educate more men about expecting explicit consent before initiating anything physical, but then you will have either to deal with the women that reward the opposite behavior first. Or give up and simply focus on getting professional help to such victims instead
i beg you to do a video abt laura palmer
so glad you did a video on this always. wondered about her peculiarity
Personally i think this is about comphet,the way she felt when the man kissed her and the way the man felt when the other man kissed him is what sold that for me
2:37 I wonder if Polanski was talking about Mia Farrow when discussing the female friend. The description of the friend immediately made me think of her with the striking beauty, as well as the innocent and demure nature.
Roman Polanski was heavily projecting
Thanks for reviewing this movie. I would have never viewed this. I can somewhat relate to Carol and her trauma
What a fantastic essay!
Polansky's own history proves that Carol is not wrong. If you cannot stand to watch a Polansky film because he's a child abuser, remember Woody Allen and all the films Harvey Weinstein produced, many, many audience favorites and award recpients. Life is complicated.
I didn’t know there was a movie that perfectly describes how I feel about men.
I’ve seen that film when it came out. It was scary, certainly for that time.
The first time I see the movie a feel a connection and at the point of my life I share a loot similarities cause I was living whit my sister and the apartment that as well have this cracks on the walls and you can hear who the sound at night who slowly appear more, I was working in a beauty salon, and feel terrified about men trying to date me o talk to me y have a couple of friends girls or gays, feel a deeply mirror of myself and understand of Carol and the movie repulsion, obviously at the end I go to therapy confront my abuse and trauma and heal of it.
I'm pretty sure Filmspotting #197: London Movies is the first time I heard about this movie back in 2008
I don't know that "comply and conform" is anything but a bitter message when you've seen nothing but the opposite growing up and expected to just be 'normal' when your traumas prevent that despite your own efforts.
That aside though, really good video essay!
I love this movie! I was excited to see someone talking about it! I can identify with many of Carol's feelings of disgust at society around her. I feel like Carol definitely shouldn't have been left alone, and her sister seemed to know it was probably not a great idea, but the way Carol Pleaded for her not to go, shouldn't have been ignored! 😢
@antiheroines he wasn't just arrested, he was convicted for statutory rape.
19:38 I love this movie one of my favourites,Catherine Deneuve and Polanski.The analysis is great very accurate.
This is the first video I have seen of you (Maybe) And I am already in love. I learned some new words and have gained a perspective I had not seen from yet. Thank you! :) I have experiences similar to the things of this move tries to represent and I think you did a wonderful job analyzing it.
@@SharksNJellifish you should check out her other videos there great
I know this isn’t related to the video but, I just watched your video on Courtney Love and I fell in love with your content and voice-because it’s so soothing.
"Let's separate the art from the artist. Anyway, here's a movie about a woman whose life has been ruined by SA and she's CRAZY because she doesn't want men to touch her. Oh and did I mention she secretly craves the SA?"
THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT POLANSKI THE MORE REPULSED I AM
Pls pls pls pls do a full vid on the virgin suicides, you’ve mentioned the film a few times in other vids but i feel like you would do an amazing job at at doing it justice🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
One of my all time favourite films ❤❤❤❤ thank you, thank you, thank you ❤
This was part of Criterions Hollywood crackup series. I saw this film ages ago and I never thought to consider that this film was about a fear of men
i think with the whole "separating the art from the artist" thing, it depends on their work. with bands like mindless self indulgence, or like the director victor salva, their work can be blatantly about, or even featuring the victims of their crimes, and i feel thats a situation where the separation gets weird, because you are listening to a song about the lead singer wanting to touch kids with complete sincerity. musicians like mr kitty and borns didnt make their work relating to their crimes, so i personally think the separation is fine there.
but honestly, as long as you consume their work ethically [pirating], its fine. people in real life arent gonna get angry with you because you like the shining even though kubrick is a bad guy. watch what you want, if the director is a piece of shit and still alive, pirate the movie. if theyre dead, great! watch the movie you wanna watch
I watched this movie a few days ago, it was like reliving the pandemic for me. I was sa years ago and when im alone for long time my mind go to places.
This is an amazing film
This movie reminds me of Cat People 1942. I hope that you will review it soon.
Wow, there's a lot of places where you could start a whole ass conversation about what is wrong here but also quite a few places where they got it surprisingly right.
hell yeahhh i've been waiting for this one
Great film but should we morally support a predator? I don't think it's possible to separate the art from the artist. It is a reflection of them. *Polaski was convicted* of his crimes, it was not alleged, he was proven guilty. I love the surrealism of Carol's perspective however this film was very r-a-p-e-y and then learning how Polanski treated his lead actress makes me dislike him even more.
0:29 watch this part again. Watching and discussing someone’s movie ≠ morally supporting them.
@@Sofiaode18 this discussion requires so much more nuance, more than just "watching doesnt equal supporting"
This was thoroughly discussed within a minute of the video. Listen before you speak.
@@spiceupyourafterlife as I said, it needs more nuance. I said what the fuck I said and I DID watch the video.
I don't see how having an emotional reaction to someone's art is morally supporting them?
Edit: I lost my glasses today, so I accidentally a word
I feel like it's okay to like something created by a person, who's LATER revealed to be the worst kind of persom, if it was created before that revelation, OR if there's no monetary gain for the creator.
But, in general, the thought of giving money or support to person who's known for, for example, child abuse or any other abuse of a person is SUPER absurd and fucked up to me.
- I don't want them to live comfortably and to me it also seems enabling.
You have the perfect voice for this doc
Saw this in a revival theatre in the early 80's.on a double bill with Chinatown.
„Maybe shes hoping it wont be that bad if she pretends to enjoy it“
I watched the movie sooo many times because of this video it is amazing
Great analysis, helped a lo to understand this film.
Great video as always, but I cannot be the only gay thinking Carol is a massive closet case?? Idk I feel myself really relating to her whenever I watch the movie! The fact Polanski unintentionally made one of the best pieces of lesbian cinema sure is something
Seems like it would make a good double feature with "Persona".
Agreed! Persona is one of my favorites.
Dang. You almost got me at the end with thinking plot-twist: ,,Oh WAIT , Michael is a good guy - he is the only rational person , he carries Carol outside , he is the man;
then the real end comes and Im like.......why didn;t I see that coming?
It is interesting to me that Polanski could in part create this film which can be viewed through one end of a lens shaped by experiencing the world under the scrutiny and objectification of the male gaze and its very real dangers and have a lot of thought-provoking conversation come from it and even understanding and recognition in Carol's story, but also all the more disturbing and sickening to me when I think of the other end of the lens through which Polanski seems to have scrutinized the actress---turning her also into an object that could be the vehicle for His art and His success in this endeavor, provoking her emotionally, disrespecting her very reasonable wishes to spend some time with her newborn and partner, even fighting her on her hard boundaries about being filmed nude and what she could have underneath her nightgown in a scene portraying an attempted violent assault. It's like he was able to sort of comprehend how women would see this art and use it to intrigue but ultimately still viewed the experiences being examined in the film as divorced from the full human spectrum of feelings and emotions attached to them. Sort of an early version of self-righteous men who regard themselves as "good guys who Get It about feminism" and yet are oblivious to their own constant misogyny and disregard for women's genuine experience being around them. Or subjected to them in relationships or employ. Telling.
I think as others have said here, it’s fine to say you can separate art from the artist but it’s incredibly ironic that a man like him made this film. At least the fact that he frames it as something being “wrong” with her matches up with what kind of a person he is. I think it would actually be worse if he were more on the side of her actions being justified because that would just make him a hypocrite. Anyways, great analysis thank you for sharing
.... Carol is just me for real 😅
Death of the artist is a thing. Yes you can hate the art and still love the art.
i once went to the dentist and they had little TVs in each room. the one in my room was playing this movie. i watched it on mute and still loved it (obligatory fuck-roman-polanski message bc seriously fuck that pig) but man what a surreal way to first see it. of course i did end up watching it normally with the sound on later haha
Carol’s going to Broadmoor.
Sadly, she cannot have a good future. She has killed two people.
What two people?
Thank you for censoring the dead rabbit. Really appreciate it 🖤.