Totally F***ed Up (1993)
I haven't seen this film lately so I'll have to watch it again and
review it properly. To sum up for those who have not seen the film, it
is focused on six Los Angeles teenagers who are gay--four fags and two
dykes. Trivia bit, the director Gregg Araki was very pleased with the
actors' performances and sensitivity on being gay even as only one of
them is gay in real life. In this film, Araki is trying to show the
connection between teenage suicide and the frustrations of being a gay
teenager. I was a film major and no matter what level of education, I
don't like meeting the requirements. Taking a minority class was a
film requirement so I took a gay and lesbian film class in 1996
offered by my favorite professor. For the final paper we had to
critique a director's work or something like that. I had already seen
The Doom Generation and enjoyed it enough that I wanted to look
into Gregg Araki's early self-financed works. I could not find those
but the university's library did have a copy of Totally F***ed
Up. I watched it intensely; I focused on that small television
screen and uncomfortable headphones. Not the way I'd recommend to view
any film, but I was still blown away. Immediately I wanted to show it
to my friends. (Look!, others just like us. Well, almost like us.)
I understand that people have different tastes and this film is not
for everyone--afterall, some people saw Howard the Duck in
theatres. However, if you have similar tastes as mine then you might
also find pleasure in this film. That is why I've compiled a little
reasons why I liked the film list below.
1. The film is based in Los Angeles. (major
city in general)
I am from Los Angeles and when I'm away from home my ear perks up when
home is mentioned. I am not from the more downtown area where the film
is set, but there are places and things which draw me in because they
are familiar, thus offering a sense of comfort. Simply relating to
the specific setting is not enough for a general audience. To have the
setting as a major city setting and the young kids seemingly from a
suburban background appeals to a larger, more general audience. The
places they chose to escape in and hang out at are quite universal in
this respect for modern urban youth.
2. The music in the background of the film is
of an industrial/then-alternative nature.
That is one of the types of music I like and it's always nice to see
things you like addressed in any media form. I particularly found the
(in)jokes amusing. ("Don't they [in Europe] have the Jesus and Mary
Chain?") Music forges a key part of identity for many of today's youth
and thus the use of music and its references helps to unite the
viewer with the film.
3. The character Jimmy plays is unhappy and
thinks love does not exist. Just when he begins to change his mind,
his heart is crushed.
I could identify with Jimmy's character, not in the 'crushing
heart--my life is over' sense, but the sadness of his character along
with contemplating suicide.
4. The positive nature of the film, despite
the dark undertones.
When I was a teenager, I didn't have a big cluster of friends that
Jimmy's character does. That is a point in the film where 1) I am
jealous of? 2) or do not see as being common enough to be realistic?
(so many close friends of 18 to 19 years old who are so out and
confident) In that sense then for me the large cluster of young proud
teenagers is a very positive thing, no matter the film's ending.
5. The division of the film into 12 pieces or
chapters.
That was a homage to a famous new wave French director Araki adores
but the name slips past me now.. oh yes, Jean-Luc Godard. I only
recall that I didn't like the one film I saw by Godard,
Breathless. I enjoyed the division into chapters and the use
of video camera within the narrative to establish a more personal
feel, thus creating more audience identification with the characters.
At times you feel the characters are talking directly to you or
echoing your own sentiments.
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