I remember Father and Son making me feel terribly uncomfortable. I found it hard to watch at times. I’m going to read through this thread now, to see if I misunderstood it. It gave me the creeps and had me imagining the worst, most unnatural relationship imaginable. So I’ll be reading these posts to find out if I was wrong – and I sincerely hope I was.
Father and Son is a stylized film. We need to separate the style from the content. It means that the story is not about incest. But the film is definately made with use of homoerotic aesthetic, like almost every Sokurov film. On the level of the visuals it celebrates the sensuality, eroticism and beauty of men. Of course when caught, Sokurov was going to agressively deny it. It is because he lives in an extremely homophobic society. If he admitted the homoerotic nature of much of his cinema now, for example, he could end up in jail under Putin legislation.
Homo? Yes. Erotic? No. This is Russia. Men kiss eachother on the mouth. It is all about sick western minds. The further west you go the worse it gets: toplessness is always considered sexual in north america. I’m always a little surprised when I see casual toplessness in french films, and you brits would no doubt attribute this to an unhealthy prudishness in our culture. I’d agree. Ironically, if Russia was more accepting of homosexuality there’d be a lot less male kissing, cheek or mouth. I’ve heard plenty of people complain about unsexual child nudity as well.
Eroticism (from the Greek ἔρως, eros—"desire") is generally understood to refer to a state of sexual arousal or anticipation of such – an insistent sexual impulse, desire, or pattern of thoughts, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality and romantic love.
The most appealing part of Sokurov is that he explores such radically different themes in his films, as well as techniques. Take a look at Moloch, where he paints Hitler as a spoiled child on the eve of his March on Russia. Not his best film, but he seems to take a perverse delight in the relationship between Hitler and Eva Braun.
^^Sure, but there is also plenty of thematic unity across sets of films. For example, the ‘family’ films(The Second Circle, Mother and Son, Father and Son), the power films(The Sun, Taurus etc)
He is probably the most interesting director working today but you really have to make an effort to ‘get’ him.
It is a shame that too many film buffs stop after Russian Ark and Mother and Son.
Russian Ark is nowhere near his best film
I think his films can be grouped to some extent, especially the “Power” films, and I would include Faust in that series, but what makes Sokurov so interesting is that he constantly challenges himself, unlike compatriot Mikhalkov, whose best work is behind him.
So tired of hearing the word “homoerotic”. If a guy looks at another guy’s shoes it’s “homoerotic”.
Francisco J. Torres
In Soviet Russia lusting after other men was not allowed, lusting after newest Lada was OK.