Review of Begotten (1991) by Tomek S — 10 May 2009

Unbearable. While the high contrast look was memorable and interesting, and the sound design was rather well done, Merhige failed. Here's why I think so...

1) 78 minutes to tell a story that takes 30 seconds to verbalize. We do not need to each individual organ plop onto the ground as "God" disembowels himself. We do not need to watch a writhing naked thing get dragged across a mountain for 20 minutes. I don't care how many different ways you had to shoot it... it all becomes a blur after maybe 5 minutes.

2) The "message" of the film is painfully literal and any moron who can read the box before hand would be able to describe what happened, and therefor understand what Merhige was trying to say.

3) No matter how shocking the images you put on screen may be, if they continue on for the entire 78 minute duration, the viewer becomes desensitized to them. I never thought I would start to doze off during a rape scene... but I guess that has now changed!

Now I do understand that this is an experimental art film. But it is also a FILM at that. And as a film, it failed.