Stanley Kubrick
Arancia Meccanica

It's only been 50 years since the premiere of "A Clockwork Orange" (exactly 19/12/1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick, and certainly, as some might argue, there have been many analyses and reviews of the film even on Debaser in the past. However, after half a century since the distribution of such an iconic and controversial work, I think it's worth offering some thoughts on the subject, avoiding summarizing the plot (also considering that it's probably known even to the walls of my home..) and perhaps inviting those who haven't yet to read the beautiful novel of the same name, written by Anthony Burgess, which inspired Kubrick's film.

Meanwhile, the issue of violence depicted in the film recalls the controversy over the legitimacy, for a work of art, to tackle certain controversial themes to the point of exciting easily impressionable minds. It's an old and complex theme, but it would be enough to remember that history lists an infinity of facts that confirm how the human race has never shone for goodness since the dawn of time. I just note that, when the film was distributed in Italy, our country was in the midst of the strategy of tension season, with all the well-known violent incidents, so to speak, ennobled by opposing political ideologies. In short, Italy at the time was certainly not a Paradise on earth.. But after half a century and those political ideologies consigned to the dusty historical archive of the twentieth century (at least it seems so..), the factor of violence remains ever-present in today's world, even the so-called crime news (old definition) is so numerous with heinous crimes, rapes, femicides (a new term) that the public has become inured, demonstrating a declining quality of life and therefore a film like "A Clockwork Orange" does not cause as much sensation today..

Another thought that spontaneously arises is to wonder what the protagonist of the film would be like today, namely the droog Alex. He would be quite a sprightly old man who, due to obvious health and mobility issues, would walk down the street leaning on an old cane. But, given these conditions, if he were to encounter a group of youths, he would inevitably shift from predator to prey. A true case of Dantesque contrapasso, to the point of demonstrating the validity of the evangelical saying "do not do unto others what you would not want done to yourself". And if that's not also the irony of fate..

But there's another aspect of "A Clockwork Orange" that, in my opinion, should not be underestimated. The main character, Alex, inevitably possesses a subtle even sinister charm, but one must not lose sight of the crux of the whole story, which is the pervasiveness and constant good health of power that grips and uses all the subordinates (as well as the same holders) according to an inexorable mechanism since the world began. Just to illustrate, the protagonist Alex exerts a lot of violence, together with his cronies, and oversteps the mark only to end up in jail. Such a peculiar subject lends itself well as a guinea pig (a bit unaware of the effects) for the new Ludovico technique that the higher echelons want to apply to criminals. Too bad that Alex becomes, because of this, such an inert little man that he feels repulsion even towards any healthy vital instinct, deprived of even the slightest free will. But power knows how to make amends, and Alex himself, always manipulable, can be recovered to his previous way of life. An effective executor of certain repressive policies towards the system's dissidents always comes in handy... In short, it is always the power, not as a metaphysical entity but real for its flesh-and-blood holders, that uses the subordinates and then incarnates itself in other powerful people who oust their predecessors (of the series "power weakens those who have it" and if you have doubts, ask for confirmation from dear departed Giulio Andreotti, a.k.a. Il Divo..).

A film still raw (which was released in Italy, where censorship was still ruthless with works like Bertolucci's contemporary "Last Tango in Paris", but was fortunately only banned for under-18s) precisely for its disenchanted look at the ambiguous nature of the human being (a cross between angel and devil as Blaise Pascal already asserted).

For my part, I consider it a film always worthy of viewing (it ages well) and I admit that every time I'm at odds with the surrounding world, which happens often, I rewatch "A Clockwork Orange" precisely because it serves a cathartic function. I am certainly not a depraved person nor do I have unresolved issues with the law and justice, but rather watching a film that dispenses, without complicity and malice, a dose of ultra-violence constitutes a valid outlet. At least I realize how far committing evil can go and that is enough for me to refrain from doing it.