{"id":78562,"date":"2021-12-10T15:27:35","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T22:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=78562"},"modified":"2021-12-11T09:57:01","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T16:57:01","slug":"if-1968","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=78562","title":{"rendered":"If &#8230; (1968)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-78565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster-665x1024.png 665w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Poster.png 715w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAt a British public school, a senior classman (Malcolm McDowell) and his friends (Richard Warwick and David Wood) rebel against a pair of snobbish bullies (Robert Swann and Hugh Thomas) who hold sadistic sway over the students.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Boarding School<\/li>\n<li>Bullies<\/li>\n<li>Lindsay Anderson Films<\/li>\n<li>Malcolm McDowell Films<\/li>\n<li>Rebellion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary opens his review of this countercultural classic by positing that &#8220;even considering a <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=42732\"><em>Goodbye, Mr. Chips<\/em><\/a>, most of us Americans have long regarded the British public school as a clear-cut example of deeply entrenched institutional tyranny toward youth and repression of free thought&#8221; &#8212; and thus, &#8220;in the late sixties many American student protesters saw the boys&#8217; school in Lindsay Anderson&#8217;s popular, controversial film as a symbol of any establishment and of all oppression,&#8221; and &#8220;identified with the three rebellious students&#8230; who fight for the survival of individualism against authority, tradition, and the old guard.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Set.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary notes that because &#8220;in the final scenes Anderson injects heavy doses of surrealism,&#8221; we &#8220;cannot tell if what we&#8217;re seeing is truly happening exactly as presented or if our crusaders&#8230; are fantasizing or Anderson is showing images that represent their wish fulfillment.&#8221; He asserts that while &#8220;the surrealism is excitingly audacious&#8221; at times: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Fighting.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; the effect is weakened during the final sequence given that it &#8220;looks like it&#8217;s just the visualization of someone&#8217;s imagination&#8221; and &#8220;we don&#8217;t feel that the bad guys are getting their due.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Shooting.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary compares this sequence with the &#8220;surrealistic final scene in Jean Vigo&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=9023\"><em>Zero de Conduite<\/em> (1933)<\/a>, Anderson&#8217;s inspiration,&#8221; which he argues &#8220;works as both dream and reality.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>With that caveat in mind, this film holds such significance in cinematic history that it&#8217;s a bit challenging to determine how compelling the storyline itself really is. While it&#8217;s morbidly gratifying to see the horrors of boarding school bullying called out rather than glossed over or romanticized: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Toilet-Dunk.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; I agree with Peary that the final scenes are opaque and less-than-satisfying (and viewers should be forewarned they are especially disturbing given the ongoing mass shootings in schools since this film&#8217;s release). Perhaps the most intriguing &#8212; if underexplored &#8212; thematic thread in the film is that of homoerotic desire (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2004\/sep\/03\/2\">Anderson was a closeted gay man<\/a>), as epitomized in the scene showing a young boy (Rupert Webster) pulling a sweater over his head while watching in awe as an older student (Warwick) shows off on the parallel bars. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Bars.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a well-edited sequence that hints at the film&#8217;s potential to explore even more challenging themes than simply brutal (albeit necessary) rebellion against oppression. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Malcolm McDowell as Mick<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-McDowell2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Tussle.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Final-Scene.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-1024x614.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-78571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-1024x614.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy-450x270.png 450w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/If-Boy.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, simply for its historical significance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1458\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0063850\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.criterion.com\/current\/posts\/488-if-school-days\">Criterion Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1969\/03\/10\/archives\/screen-if-begins-runtale-of-school-revolt-opens-at-the-plaza.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/if\/review\/2030112173\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/if-1968.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/if\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.&#8221; Synopsis: At a British public school, a senior classman (Malcolm McDowell) and his friends (Richard Warwick and David Wood) rebel against a pair of snobbish bullies (Robert Swann and Hugh Thomas) who hold sadistic sway over the students. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Boarding School Bullies Lindsay Anderson Films Malcolm McDowell Films Rebellion Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary opens his review of this countercultural classic by positing&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=78562\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78562"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":78632,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78562\/revisions\/78632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}