Zizek!
Though focusing exclusively on the contemporary Slovenian philosopher, Slavoj Zizek, as an eccentric individual prone to brilliant ranting,Zizek!presents an interesting paradox: that of the documentary filmmaker’s relationship to the subject. Twenty-seven year old director Astra Taylor, with her film debut, has managed to inject ample footage of Zizek ruminating on his couch, talking in the cab, in the park, and in lecture halls with her obvious crush on the man known for bringing Lacanian psychoanalytical theory to the masses. In the tradition of unlikely love stories, i.e.Harold & Maude, Astra follows Zizek around with a camera for a day-in-the-life portrait. During personal moments, Zizek generously displays his underwear drawer, for example, as he gives a lengthy explanation of how socialist/communist houses should remain tidy and sparse. During more lofty conceptual moments, or in academic settings, Zizek explains his thoughts on Lacan, Freud, Marx, and Stalin. Like the "direct cinema" of the Maysles Brothers and Errol Morris,Zizek!relies upon the inherent character of its subject for entertainment value, though the film will definitely help newcomers grasp Zizek's complex philosophical tenets. In this,Zizek!is not only an experimental love letter, but also a film that will give one's brain a serious workout.--Trinie Dalton