Review of Cowards Bend the Knee (2003) by Greg S — 24 Sep 2009
Guy Maddin makes what are probably the most unusual black comedies in recent memory, and this is no exception. The story goes like this, a man brings his girlfriend to get an abortion at a beauty salon and ends up falling for the owners daughter during the proceedure, meanwhile his girlfriend bleeds to death on the operating table.
The man quickly forgets his girlfriend and begins to pursue the owners daughter. Unfortunately for him, the only way she'll let him touch her is if he gets his hands chopped off and replaced with the hands of her dead father.
From there things get weird. This is the first in Maddin's "autobiographical" trilogy, which also includes Brand Upon The Brain and My Winnipeg. One great thing about Maddin is that he never disappoints (with the exception of Twilight of the Ice Nymphs).
His films feel like what you would get if Murnau and Lynch got together and took some acid.
This review of Cowards Bend the Knee (2003) was written by Greg S on 24 Sep 2009.
Cowards Bend the Knee has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
