Review of Sweet Movie (1974) by Al M — 12 Aug 2010

Sweet Movie is equal parts arthouse and exploitation, the two of which Makavejev blends together to enact a critique of every oppressive apparatus from communism to capitalism. Indeed the two seperate stories individually explore the two sides of the Cold War in equally disparaging manners.

Makavejev's main metaphor in his critique of these two opposing ideologies is sex, an act fundamtenally linked to human identity and individuality but that inevitably is repressed/constructed in a variety of ways by the institutions of government, religion, and social mores.

Hence, Makavejev makes his sex as extreme as possible: a gynecological beauty pagent that seeks to find the world's most beautiful virgin; a man with a golden penis who obsesses over cleaniless to the point of wiping his partner down with alcohol; sex in sugar vats; bathing in vats of chocolate; dinners featuring urination, vomiting, and defecation as erotic acts; pedophilia; etc.

Disgusting, hilarious, and brilliant, Makavejev's film explores a battle between ideologies that is ultimately a loss for the common people no matter what side ends up ascending to power. Makavjev also demonstrates his ability to truly create striking images, for the film is filled with beautiful, original, and often horrofiying images.