The Pervert's Guide to Cinema – Not What You Think

The Harvard Film Archive will screen The Pervert's Guide to Cinema at 7:00 pm tomorrow, Friday, April 6, and at 7:00 pm on Sunday, April 8. Admission is $8.

Sometimes, we think he's just saying the first thing that pops in his head, but philosopher/psychoanalyst/theorist/film critic Slavoj Zizek is a joy to behold. The burly, bearded fellow roams around like a grizzly bear spewing this thoughts about this, that, and the other thing. Watching Zizek do his thing is like watching your favorite college professor at his most eccentric.

Zizek tackles the movies in The Pervert's Guide to Cinema, which is essentially film criticism packaged as a fantasy film. Instead of dry interviews with Zizek offering his opinions on the great directors, the movie offers film clips – and then all of a sudden Zizek appears on the set.

The filmmakers don't just insert Zizek into the scenes. Instead, they reconstruct several famous sets, and Zizek will pop up to discuss a particular scene. You'll be watching a scene from Hitchcock's Psycho, and – voila! – Zizek offers his opinion on the movie from Norman Bates' momma's rocking chair. Then, later on, Zizek discusses Coppola's The Conversation while sitting on the toilet to discuss a bathroom scene.

Bostonist has had the pleasure of watching The Pervert's Guide to Cinema, and it should be required viewing for film buffs. You'll never look at these movies the same way once Zizek is through with them.

Image of Slavoj Zizek in shadow, a la the scene in which Jimmy Stewart confronts Kim Novak in Vertigo from Harvard Film Archive.