Of Freaks and Men
by Aleksey Balabanov

List Price: $24.99
Category: DVD
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DVD Reviews of Of Freaks and Men

DVD Review: "Cinema will reveal truth to the common folk."
Summary: 4 Stars

DVD Review: movie shows hitting children leads to sexual problems
Summary: 5 Stars

Of Freaks and Men is telling you something where it is not telling you something. It doesn't say what the relationship between Johan and "nanny" is. Why does Johan cry so much when she dies? She is unawares of her surroundings except when she is beating someone. In tsarist russia, these beatings were common until the Bolshevik Revolution outlawed beatings in 1917. Schools ended all forms of punishment. This film is easier to understand for Russians who commonly see erotica on TV, than for Americans for whom erotica signifies a porno flick.
For aristocratic cultures, like Britain, the "english nanny" plays the twisted role portrayed in the film. They are not parents. An erotic element usually underlies relationships. Lisa's nanny is Johan's sister who was probably raised by the same nanny in turn. Grunya does not react any more than Johan does when she sees Lisa beaten. How does Lisa get a fascination with beatings? The film raises these questions but does not answer them. Despite all the pornography, the song of the cab-driver in the movie has a meaning deeper than found in American movies, and one that is not understood in the US. School beatings are a "way of life" in the South, says a Texas youth. Corporal punishment causes crime and sexual problems because it is both.

DVD Review: Movie exposes hitting children leads to sexual problems
Summary: 5 Stars

Of Freaks and Men is telling you something where it is not telling you something. It doesn't say what the relationship between Johan and "nanny" is. Why does Johan cry so much when she dies? She is unawares of her surroundings except when she is beating someone.
The film will be easier to understand for Russians. In tsarist Russia, these beatings were common until the Bolshevik Revolution outlawed beatings in 1917 and schools ended all forms of punishment.
For aristocratic cultures, like Britain, the "english nanny" plays the twisted role portrayed in the film. They are not parents. An erotic element usually underlies relationships. Lisa's nanny is Johan's sister who was probably raised by the same nanny in turn. Grunya does not react any more than Johan does when she sees Lisa beaten. How does Lisa get a fascination with beatings? The film raises these questions but does not answer them. Despite all the pornography, the song of the cab-driver in the movie has a meaning deeper than found in American movies, and one that is not understood in the US. School beatings are a "way of life" in the South, says a Texas youth. Corporal punishment causes crime and sexual problems because it is both.

DVD Review: Of Freaks And Men
Summary: 4 Stars

DVD Review: Very well-filmed movie
Summary: 4 Stars

Description of Of Freaks and Men

General DVDs

• Genres > Art House & International
• By Country > Russia
• By Genre > Drama
• By Original Language > Russian
• By Theme > Period Piece
• Drama > General
• By Theme > Class Differences
• Family Life
• Period Piece