One of these films probably best enjoyed as a solitary pleasure, seeing that it is so far removed from mainstream cinema. And pleasure is the word.... from the grainy yet warm black and white silent cinematography to the relentless Johann's efforts to infiltrate and degrade two middle-class St Petersburg families into his porn filmaking business. The siamese twins represent a sort of duality - there is the 'pure' one who detests alcohol and abhors the sordidness he has been dragged into and there is the 'corrupted' one who takes to the wine that Johann offers him with relish and seduces the middle-class girl. After Johann dies and his network dissolves, no one can find happiness. The girl goes west and the twins go east - both are isolated and excluded. It is interesting to see how early 20th century Russia took and adapted the trappings of European Victorian social mores.
Review of Of Freaks and Men
