Punisment Park

I know that among people my age, it is rather fashionable to be in love with the film V for Vendetta. Never mind if you have no idea of the comic, or if the idea of a masked, faceless mob as the only way of fighting back seems sad and pathetic - if you want to show your rebellious stripes, V is for you.

I think I've got something better.

Punishment Park is a fake docmentary created by British director Peter Watkins during the Nixon years. After being shutdown and shutout upon release, its out on DVD, and now Google Video. I've read a lot of opinions about it - some say it is a disturbingly accurate look at possible future for our current political world, others say its overblown hippie propoganda. Some argue that the film has less power without any context (ie. you have no idea of politics between WW2 and Vietnam, you have no idea about this film), while still others wonder if some of the messages are too simple and exaggerated.

All valid and interesting points, but the film is still astounding, both in how natural the actors are, and the ideas it presents. At the very least, I promise it will make you think more than V.

Please give it a watch. You could do a lot worse.