Chained for Life

'Actors and actresses are usually more beautiful than ordinary people....it is a supreme asset...because we love to look at them.' Pauline Kael's quote comes after Bonnie and Clyde (1967) because she is unhappy that the sexy violence is justifying it. Now it takes us further with this film we are obliged to look more at everyone. Chained for Life (1952) was an exploitation film about the real conjoined twins of Daisy and Violet Hilton. Aaron Schimberg takes his new one with the same title but instead of the 'Siamese Twins' he takes us to Adam Pearson who really has the genetic condition and we saw him in Under the Skin (2013) although he was also on many TV programmes. It is a rather splendid and difficult film within a film and relates to the previous film that we have to really look at others. We can consider listening to people is just as important as looking. We can commend Jess Weixler's performance as outstanding.

All I can say is Jess Wexler is an absolute revelation. I was so lucky to catch this at NOLAFF and I was blown away. If you have no idea what the film is about please just just take my advice and give it a chance you will not regret it!

Besides the tremendous performance from Jess Weixler this film is absolutely atrocious. It was all over the place and made no sense whatsoever. I was completely lost and had no idea what was going on the entire film. I still don't know what the hell I just watched. Would not recommend.

A movie about making a movie, and more.

One of our two main characters has the genetic disorder - neurofibromatosis. So, kudos to both, Pearson & Weixler, for their commitment & skill in presenting a thoughtful script.

Movie statements: "Disfigurement - they taunt me and beg me to show my face. Only so that when I do, they turn away in horror." "Do we long for beauty because we seek order & symmetry?"

MY thoughts: One thematic goal was reducing stereotyping in film. Another theme was - should a disabled or disfigured character be played by a non ... Yet, oddly, in this film, the Siamese twins portrayed were not joined; just twins. Another theme - is it vanity putting on make-up to feel pretty? Still another (and I really question) - "Actors that are beautiful have a greater range of expressiveness which gives them more opportunities, and we love to look at them."

Where MASK and ELEPHANT MAN were predictable, feel good movies, this one, like Todd Browning's FREAKS, really gets close to reality. The movie blurs the difference between documentary and fiction in unsettling ways.