Did anyone happen to catch this film on film4 a couple a weeks ago? I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The colour scenes interlaced with the black and whites ones were pretty cool. I felt that the colour scenes represented freedom and defiance while the black and white ones represented oppression and the boredom of school life in general. Those familar with 'A Clockwork Orange' should give this a try.
I saw it a few weeks ago when it was on film4. I agree, I thought the black and white/colour scenes were done really good but I didn’t actually happen to notice that change they stood. I didn't quite understand the ending though so i would probably have to watch it again to.
Originally posted by Mickey123: I felt that the colour scenes represented freedom and defiance while the black and white ones represented oppression and the boredom of school life in general.
It's a fine film. There was a lot of discussion when it came out about the intercutting between colour and black-and-white. After a while the director let on that what it actually represented was them running out of money for colour film.
I read this in an interview with Lindsay Anderson, they couldn't afford to shoot the whole film in colour!
Along with Britannia Hospital & O' Lucky Man, its a trilogy of films by Lindsay Anderson starring MM as one character in various stages of his life.
If... is my favourite Malcolm McDowell film, I love the inspirational music too by missa luba used in the film. Superb acting and a real treat, full of english eccentrics, its a great insight into the way a public school was run!
