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For this Friday Movie Night, first up is The Man Who Laughs (1928), another entry in the Silent Jokerification Horror Cinematic Universe, following He Who Gets Slapped (1924), which we watched on Sunday. This one holds extra cred for literally inspiring the Joker. A child heir to a nobleman refuses to kiss the hand of tyrannical English king James II; as punishment his face is disfigured until it carries a permanent grin. Exiled from his home, he joins the circus and is raised there by a twisted showman, falling in love with a blind woman performer. Eventually, fate grants him an opportunity to ingratiate himself into the royal court again, and he plots his revenge. This is the best-known and best-regarded film of director Paul Leni, and considered a highlight of silent film in general. Oh, and did I mention it inspired the Joker?

BONUS: Between the features, we will watch Buster Keaton’s 23-minute short Cops (1922), which features Buster drawing the aggro of every cop in the city after accidentally interrupting a police parade with his horse-drawn wagon. Silliness ensues. Considered one of his better works.

After that is The Return (2003), a Russian coming-of-age mystery about a pair of brothers due to reunite with their father, whom they have never met. He immediately takes them on a trip to a remote island in the wilderness, and starts testing their masculinity, seemingly to affirm his own. Is he actually who he says he is? The sons begin to doubt. I guess we’ll find out. Director is Andrey Zyvagintsev, who is otherwise best-known for Leviathan (2014), which we previously watched. Currently ranked #355 on the Letterboxd Top 500.

We’ll start at 8PM EST on Blorptube, right here:

https://blorp.bot.nu/o/visual_cuisine

Be there, comrades!

Letterboxd:

• The Man Who Laughs: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-man-who-laughs/
• Cops: https://letterboxd.com/film/cops/
• The Return: https://letterboxd.com/film/the-return/

Doesthedogdie.com links:

• The Man Who Laughs: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/12000
• The Return: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376968/parentalguide/

CWs for The Man Who Laughs:

• Child abandonment.
• Child abuse.
• Gaslighting.
• Stalking.
• Amputation.
• Someone is physically restrained.
• Kidnapping.
• Death of parent.
• Cheating.
• Clowns.
• Shower scene.
• Hanging.
• Babies.
• Ableism.
• Racism against Roma.
• Racial slurs.
• Misrepresentation of Roma.
• Implied sex.
• Objectification of female characters.
• Male character ridiculed for crying.
• Sexual assault: a woman forcibly kisses a man.
• Homelessness.
• Drowning.
• Torture.
• Unconsciousness.

CWs for The Return:

• Objectification of female characters.
• Implied sex.
• Bullying.
• Beatings.
• Blood.
• Child endangerment.
• Profanity.
• Alcohol.
• Smoking.
• Child abuse.
• Death by falling.
• Corpses.
• Natural bodies of water.

Links to movies:

• The Man Who Laughs: https://tankie.tube/w/eqrwr3WZkkTNY2Y5WwdbyW
• Cops: https://tankie.tube/w/rmmGHU5CuAK1kkRTbAszqj
• The Return: https://tankie.tube/w/1hdnYDEB1BdJWNMzY5Zhxw