Cosmopolitan’s review of “If…” was “If you’re young you will really dig “If….” If you’re not so young it is more reason than ever to see what it is all about”. “If….” is a movie by Lindsay Anderson inspired by “Zero de Conduite”; a French movie that focuses on a group of boys fed up with their educational system. Starring Malcolm McDowell as “Mick”, “If….” is a movie that presents the British high school system in the 60s. It is Anderson’s most notable movie. The college that the movie is filmed in (Cheltenham College) is actually the college that Anderson attended as a young boy. It is a British drama that satirizes the public school life. The high school it is set in symbolizes British society. Mick and his two roommates Johnny and Wallace
…show more content…
Homosexuality is unavoidable in an all male school. The whips discuss the younger boys and objectify them as though they can simply pick and choose between them. They almost treat them as their whores. Other than that they must serve them; warm their lavatory seats, shave their beards, and serve them food, it is indirectly shown to the viewers that the whips have sexual relationships with them. Homosexuality is also targeted in the relationship between Philips and Wallace such as when Philips watched Wallace do gymnastics. The dance is very erotic and sexual and the eye contact they have is full of romance. Wallace and Philips are also seen sitting together having a flirtatious conversation and speaking of personal matters. Sexuality isn’t only present in the movie in a homosexual view but there is also sexual repression. In the scene where the boys are having lunch and the headmaster’s wife is sitting with them, they all try to stir up a flirty conversation with her. They stare at her the whole time and ask her if she “needs” anything. She is the only woman in the college and there’s no doubt they’d all love to have a sexual relationship with her. Is that feeling mutual? There’s the scene where the wife walks around the boys’ dormitory naked and caresses their belongings. What message is Anderson trying to send in that scene? Is she also sexually repressed? She is surrounded by young men all the time so there is no doubt she would be attracted to them and have her
Homosexuality is unavoidable in an all male school. The whips discuss the younger boys and objectify them as though they can simply pick and choose between them. They almost treat them as their whores. Other than that they must serve them; warm their lavatory seats, shave their beards, and serve them food, it is indirectly shown to the viewers that the whips have sexual relationships with them. Homosexuality is also targeted in the relationship between Philips and Wallace such as when Philips watched Wallace do gymnastics. The dance is very erotic and sexual and the eye contact they have is full of romance. Wallace and Philips are also seen sitting together having a flirtatious conversation and speaking of personal matters. Sexuality isn’t only present in the movie in a homosexual view but there is also sexual repression. In the scene where the boys are having lunch and the headmaster’s wife is sitting with them, they all try to stir up a flirty conversation with her. They stare at her the whole time and ask her if she “needs” anything. She is the only woman in the college and there’s no doubt they’d all love to have a sexual relationship with her. Is that feeling mutual? There’s the scene where the wife walks around the boys’ dormitory naked and caresses their belongings. What message is Anderson trying to send in that scene? Is she also sexually repressed? She is surrounded by young men all the time so there is no doubt she would be attracted to them and have her