People are frightened by what they don't understand

Rating: 10/10 (18 August 2013)

'The Elephant Man' is David Lynch's most humane movie. But, its humanity depends only on the initiative and the unselfishness of ONE man, played sublimely by Anthony Hopkins. This doctor faced stubbornly the denigration, the jealousy or the pure misunderstanding by his colleagues, thereby risking his reputation and even his job. The 'Elephant Man' is physically a horrendously 'painted bird', whose deformed features are cynically exploited by 'businessmen'. Being 'abnormal', he is hounded by racists and fiercely attacked by the mob. Psychologically, however, he himself is the most generous of men. Of course, this movie doesn't brush a very 'bright' picture of mankind. Its harsh and violent scenes are nearly unbearable and go straight to the heart of a 'conscious' spectator. 'The Elephant Man' is a horror movie, but not in the normal sense. The horror doesn't come from a seriously misshapen man, but from his treatment by his 'fellow-creatures' and their barbaric slogan: individuals who are not normal have to be slaughtered. A must see.