What Classics Did You See Last Week? (Apr 3-Apr 9)

"Normally depicting the kind of cruelty that children are capable of is limited to works of fantasy such as William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Maladolescenza, a German-Italian production from 1977, however, deals with it in a way that is powerfully real – showing in graphic terms adolescent bullying and use of sex as an instrument of domination. Because of its depictions of children in sexual situations, however, it has been banned in many countries, most recently in Germany in 2006. WHILE I'M NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE DIRECTOR,  I DID NOT FIND IT TO BE ANY MORE SALACIOUS THAN THE FILMS OF LARRY CLARK AND EVEN MORE BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED AND HONEST. Please be advised, however, that Maladolescenza is a very disturbing film and is not recommended for those offended by cruelty to animals (in this case – a bird) or children presented in the nude and in threatening situations." (quoted directly from HOWARD SCHUMANN'S IMDB review of MALADOLESCENZA)   

If I was you I would take any of Howard Schumann's reviews with a pinch of salt spiderwort. In a previous review of his Howard Schumann got all self righteous and high and mighty and condemned the lovely, acclaimed Oscar-nominated, Indie comedy-drama CAPTAIN FANTASTIC because it contained a gentle, witty, thought provoking jab at Christianity. In another review he slammed the enjoyable and entertaining action-comedy THE NICE GUYS because of a funny, rather innocent line about anal sex uttered by a 12-year-old character.   

Yet the 1977 film MALADOLESCENZA - which Howard gave a glowing review to on the IMDB, contains a scene of a nude, 11-year-old Eva Ionesco in which her open vagina and anus are shown in close-up. It is easily the most heartbreakingly exploitative image of a child I have ever seen in a film and it nearly broke my heart when I saw it. To say I was shocked and saddened that someone would put this scene - which must be like catnip to pedophiles - on the screen is an understatement. If I was the father of the 11-year-old Eva Ionesco I would have made it my life's work to see that the child's mother (who allowed her then 11-year-old daughter to be in the film and, notoriously, photographed Eva in nude sexual poses - when Eva was even younger than she is in this film, and had them published) and the director were legally taken to task for this heinous deed.

No wonder it is a criminal offense to own this film in the United States (I'm not sure if Howard imported it from Europe or downloaded it from the internet).

That Howard Schumann could compare what is in MALADOLESCENZA ("I DID NOT FIND IT TO BE ANY MORE SALACIOUS THAN THE FILMS OF LARRY CLARK AND EVEN MORE BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED AND HONEST") with the heartachingly sad, but * simulated and discreet sex scenes (played by actors over 18) in Larry Clark's films - all of which I have seen - is disengenuous and downright horrifying. It sickens me to my stomach. I am an extremely open minded individual and abhor censorship with every iota of my being, but I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to the the sexual exploitation of children. As I suspect most good, decent human beings do.    

Howard Schumann may feel it is fine, but there is absolutely nothing "beautifully realized and honest" about a sexually exploitative close-up shot of a naked 11-year-old's anus and vagina (shot from the rear) in a film.     

* I have also seen Clark's KEN PARK and realize that some of the relatively tame, non exploitative sex scenes are real rather than simulated. However I stress, once again, that the parts of the teenage characters in this film are played by actors older than 18.