Utopians

Scud is Back! An interesting tale of the psychosexual awakening of young college student involved in a relationship with the new professor. The opening sequence, certainly attention grabbing and erotic, felt a little misplaced and confusing -- flashback? flash forward? simple dream? Watching Adonis grow under Antonio's tutelage and his evolution from mentee to partner was intriguing. How and why his girlfriend changed was not quite so clear.If you are interested in being an observer to Adonis' evolution accompanied by Scud's typical sprinkling of nudity and an atypical upbeat ending, you'll like this movie.

First, I have to admit being an unabashed Scud fan, so there is an underlying prejudice to this review. I have seen several of his movies, including "Permanent Residence" and "Amphetamine." I enjoyed both films and have written positive reviews for them on Amazon. "Utopians," however, was a little disappointing. The other films had strong philosophical underpinnings, interesting literary references, and a fulfilling symbolic language with exceptional aesthetic presentations. Scud seems to have abandoned some of these admirable qualities in "Utopia," producing instead a film more in keeping with late-at-night Cinemax fare and cinematography inspired by porn."Utopians" is about a college professor who has mixed his swinging lifestyle with his PhD and uses his syllabus as fly paper for bi-curious students with life issues. A bit "hum-drum." Anyone who has been to college knows these randy blokes, or at least heard of them. The film is only eighty-eight minutes long, so the seduction of Hins (student) by Ming (teacher) occurs early and with little subtlety. Ming's pederasty comprises the remainder of the film and is filled with many deceptions and manipulations. His lesson plan (or game plan) requires him to not only draw Hins into the delights of the "cut-sleeve," but break down his monogamously minded values, luring Hins to embrace a pan-sexual philosophy. To this end, he gradually enlists Hins' girlfriend and his own paramour in Hins' re-education. Eventually, this quartet becomes the nucleus of a loving and lusting "utopia" dedicated to the premise, "with the right education, you can find happiness."Despite the film's banality, it does have some elements of Scud's genius. Beautiful cinematography and nude scenes grace the screen, and the filmmaker frequently uses surrealistic interruptions to promote and develop the plot. References to Socrates and the dictum of self examination help give the film intellectual heft. Scud also employs Yukio Mishima's book "Confessions of a Mask" as a literary device, and the theme of "masking" and "unmasking" becomes an subtext throughout the movie. However, these artful maneuverings sometimes suffer under the film's lackluster plot and embarrassing script--often predictable lines common to low grade noir. The rich symbolism supporting transcendental themes in Scud's other films is sacrificed for a philosophy of embodied identity, and the flesh becomes the feeding ground for an emotional gratification that eschews higher pleasures. The next to last scene of the film is an orgy, a dinner party for the quartet turning into sexual abandon. Scud shoots all the sexual couplings from the neck down. It is a bit odd and visceral. Though this fits well with the "masking" and "unmasking" theme of the literary device, it turns the sex into an act of vicarious anonymity, absent of higher thought, and the examined life becomes nothing more than lure for headless, therefore meaningless, bumping and grinding.Despite the disappointment, I would still recommend this film, though not at full price. Wait for a sale.

If your a fan of Scud & his work, you'll enjoy this movie as well. It's a tale of just finding your own pleasures in life & doing what makes you happy. The real twist comes near the end. Without giving away anything, Hins learns the true meaning of disappointment & joy. It's so good! So glad I finally got to see it

Great cinematography with no subtitles. I do not speak Mandarin nor Cantonese:(

Deeply disappointed with the movie. The plot line was simply absurd. The acting were horrendous and the actors were not appealing.

Nothing to say. Not what I expected. But okay.

A beautiful, amazing, and provocative film. I believe Scud is showing his more mature film-making self. The film has great videography covering several geographic locations. Great to see Bangkok from 30 stories up and on a river boat. Given the fraud of most marriages and people still in rabid defense of the institution, we have a refreshing film that explores the fluidity of sex and polyamorous relations. Adonis He Fei is both a great actor and fine on the eyes. Because of the earlier bad reviews I was hesitant to get the dvd. Not the least bit disappointed, glad to be adding to my collection.

In my opinion, may as well call this film what it is, soft core porn. I didn't hate it, but I didn't necessarily like it either. I just didn't get it. What I can say about this film is, if a college or university professor was doing what the professor in the film is doing, and it was noted or found out about (which I don't see how it wouldn't be found out about being that the professor is having sex with most of the students in his class), that professor would be unemployed. Fired. Period.

enjoyed it

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