@enjoy_jer said:

I watched it through once, but it was not the easiest to follow, and it just really seemed to be drawn out, and to go on forever. Should I try to watch it again? Was it better than my first impression?

It was the same for me on my viewing, enjoy jer. I should rewatch it, really. I do appreciate it when a director goes for a film more substantial than hour-and-a-half fare. The scene with the animal's dung disgusted me, however, and I'm in no hurry to see that again. There are so many other films to watch before I go back to that mess. Ha.

@enjoy_jer said:

The scene with the animal's dung disgusted me, however, and I'm in no hurry to see that again. There are so many other films to watch before I go back to that mess. Ha.

I have the same reaction to artsy directors who go for the heavy-handed disgusting/disturbing approach. Bertolucci does that a lot, especially with upsetting sexual situations , like the anal rape scene in "Last Tango in Paris" which traumatized 19-year-old actress Maria Schneider. She said she was crying real tears, not acting.

@rooprect said:

@enjoy_jer said:

The scene with the animal's dung disgusted me, however, and I'm in no hurry to see that again. There are so many other films to watch before I go back to that mess. Ha.

I have the same reaction to artsy directors who go for the heavy-handed disgusting/disturbing approach. Bertolucci does that a lot, especially with upsetting sexual situations , like the anal rape scene in "Last Tango in Paris" which traumatized 19-year-old actress Maria Schneider. She said she was crying real tears, not acting.

Ah yes, Bertolucci's reported mistreatment of Maria Schneider during the filming of Last Tango. That is regrettable. I don't mind the "heavy-handed disgusting/disturbing approach" much at all. It's just that they were, IIRC, digging into a horse's ass and flailing shit around in that particular scene. That was revolting as hell, even if there was some intended symbolism to the scene.