The Shout (1978) - film review

The Shout is a British horror film first released in 1978, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski.  The film stars Alan Bates, Susannah York, John Hurt, Robert Stephens and Tim Curry.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.

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Jerzy Skolimowski’s The Shout is a film about the irrational side (the very nucleus) of artistic talent.  Like the main character of the film (Charles Crossley) every artist, just by trying to develop his talent, is as if writing a story of his/her artistic achievement.  Of course, Crossley will not write a book about himself - he is too occupied with his creative gift and its power, not with his personality.  His genre of description of life of his talent is the oral storytelling we, the viewers, are privileged to hear and to observe.  The psychology of a genuine artist as an artist (in relation to his creative power), according to the film, has three layers: unconscious tendency to worship and to exaggerate the magic power of his gift, being hooked on truth-value of his art (on its uniqueness), not on its success, and, finally, the proclivity of the artist to feel that the truth of his art is more important than his whole life and must be nurtured even if it is at the cost of the creator’s life. 

The film depicts the ontological rivalry between a genuine artist and artist-businessman who uses his art to become successful in money-making and fame and who is ready to re-shape his art’s truth according to market demands to make this art appealing and saleable.   The duel of talents between Crossley and a post-modern composer Anthony, and Crossley’s amorous and sexual triumph over Anthony’s wife Rachel, the exceptionally attractive woman with emotional power that is equal to the universe, are depicted by Skolimowski with rare cinematic virtuosity.  The metaphoric level of Skolimowski’s communication with viewers of the film is impressively sophisticated, and we can enjoy (and be dazzled and challenged by) the symbolic density of director’s images, analogies and metaphors.  (Please, visit: www.actingoutpolitics.com to read an essay about The Shout, with analysis of stills from the film, and other articles).

© Victor Enyutin (Seattle USA) 2011

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Jerzy Skolimowski’s magnificent interpretation of the short story by Robert Graves "The Shout".  What is questionable, in this crude story about magic, is that the director’s efforts are only sustained by his exquisite management of camera, sound and montage.  Like the villain in the film, who judges the music written by his rival to be empty, we can say the same thing about this picture, and perhaps Skolimowski manifests this opinion, indirectly, through the voice of the character. Notwithstanding, this "much ado about nothing" succeeds in moving the spectator.
Adam Gai (Jerusalem)

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