Unit 10: 2000s Dogtooth

The scene I chose to analyze for the shock value of the film is the scene where Christina tricks the older sister into giving her cunnilingus. The scene is really graphic and the only reason Christina wants this sexual favor from the sister is that, she is dissatisfied with intercourse with the brother. The scene starts with Christina and the sister being centered in the frame, they are both wearing plain clothes. The music is quiet, which adds to the awkwardness of this scene in particular. The shots for this scene are most wide-angle, and then they focus on close ups of each of the girls. Christina is using her experience with the outside world, to take advantage of the sister for a headband. It’s even worse because the sister actually agrees to it, and only because of a piece of fabric. The way this scene is presented as close up, personal and awkward only adds to the feeling of voyeurism and disturbing image that the viewer experiences unlike in American cinema. The acting in this style of new-wave Greek cinema adds to this aspect of voyeurism because it’s actual physical acting and doesn’t rely on edited or censored scenes that are often present in cinema from America or many other countries where standards of censorship apply. While this scene is certainly somewhat hard to watch, it’s interesting in the fact that it is so different from the mainstream cinema I’m used too. Although this wave of cinema is certainly fascinating for experiencing a different and less censored version of cinema.