I May Destroy You

Defining The Grey Area

BBC series about the consequences of rape

    I find it challenging to see abuse towards women on screen. It hurts me to acknowledge there is still a lot of sexual injustice towards the female population in many parts of the globe, including our backyards. It was one of the reasons why the 2020 series I May Destroy You stayed on my mental to watch list for over a year. 

    Even though the issue of non-consensual intimacy is not an easy one, I am proud of Michaela Coel for finding a non-stereotypical way to speak about it. The series is inspired by her personal experience of rape. The talented author left her mark on literally every aspect of the drama: as the leading actress, writer, co-director and producer.

    I May Destroy You focuses on Arabella, a promising young writer. At an elegant party in an established London club, she is dragged into the toilet and raped by an anonymous guest. She receives professional support from the Police. After many months, however, the investigation hits a dead end. The perpetrator is not found. Struggling to recover from the damaging experience, Arabella fails to finish her new novel and loses her source of income.

    Despite the significant subject matter, the series is humorous. Experimentations with popular

drugs, avant-garde hairstyles, colourful outfits, and the intellectual atmosphere of the publishing 

circle are on the lighter spectrum of the drama. Arabella is not just any girl. We see the world 

through the eyes of an artist and a rising celebrity. 

    The series also explores what happens when initially consensual sex goes wrong: one side starts photographing or filming, forces anal intercourse, avoids using contraceptives or orchestrates a group act. It shows how awkward it is to stand your ground in those situations. The drama particularly shames removing protection without informing the partner about it. It also touches upon the taboo of homosexual rape. 

    In the modern culture, where promiscuity is encouraged, safety is not assured. The series addresses the question of personal responsibility. Should we be more aware of how dangerous some seemingly innocent scenarios may be? Or be protected by a law that makes us safe in our sexual adventures? Not the easiest to watch, but perhaps not meant to, I May Destroy You is a broad reflection on the experience of assault and its aftermath. 

    The drama raises awareness regarding topics that usually stay in the shadows. It shows the importance of discussing the areas of consent in our relationships and when meeting someone for the first time. Rather than going with the flow, naively expecting we like the same things, we need to take time to speak about our preferences. 

    As more victims open up and share their experiences, I wonder where conversations about personal space are taking us? Perhaps, one day, as a result of the public debate we are having, the law will require everyone to sign a consent form detailing the areas of agreement before engaging in any intercourse, particularly with a perfect stranger from a dating app? Would it be an exaggeration? Or a clarification, allowing law enforcement if the line of mutually enjoyable sex is crossed? 

    Like many women forced into intercourse I did not agree to, I hope that there will be more awareness in regards to consent, lifting the stigma of shame, bringing light into the grey corners of human intimacy. Defined laws should protect women and men worldwide from various forms of rape. I believe there will be more safety for us in the decades to come as we continue to speak about our experiences and expect responses. Am I an optimist to believe in a better future and a more regulated law? I want like to think I am only a realist.

Agnes Prygiel / London / 30.01.2022

The Man Who Fell to Earth

David Bowie, Actor

    Coming across Bowie Season in the British Film Institute, I was surprised to learn how many movies this charismatic artist and performer appeared in during his lifetime. I always believed that singers are not particularly good actors, and they should not attempt to go beyond their careers as vocalists. Just like an interior decorator may not necessarily be a stunning plumber or a talented builder, although those fields seem to be related.

    Intrigued by David Bowie's acting, I went to see "The Man Who Fell to Earth" - a philosophical sci-fi drama from 1976, directed by Nicolas Roeg, a cinematic classic, a must-see for film connoisseurs. 

    The movie tells a story of an alien whose planet suffers from a catastrophic drought. Leaving his family behind, he comes to Earth in a human form, passing himself as a mysterious Englishman - Mr Newton. After acquiring enough money to see a patent lawyer, he introduces new inventions into the consumer market. He starts his corporation, soon becoming one of the richest men in the world. His goal is to gather enough funds to build a spaceship and save his family in the faraway galaxy. Unfortunately, his sudden rise to fame and revolutionary inventions attract competitors wishing to destroy him.

    During his time on Earth, Newton meets an innocent and sweet Mary-Lou. Beautiful and lonely small-town hotel attendant finds fulfilment looking after the unusual starman. They soon move in together, leading a quiet life despite Newton's success as a businessman. 

    Using no special effects, 3D modelling, or blue boxes, the story of an undercover alien visiting Earth to save his own family is believable. David Bowie in the leading role is compelling and captivating. Nearly 50 years since its' premiere, the story of a stranger finding his way in an unfriendly world remains relevant. Ambition, love and betrayal meet in this iconic picture, leaving us with some intense emotions and thoughts, just like a good movie should. Watching a production that requires attention and effort, not immediate consumption, feels good and refreshing. There are not many films like that anymore.

    For those, like me, intrigued with Bowie as an actor, there are more movies at BFI in the coming weeks - erotic horror "The Huger" and a rock musical "Absolute Beginners". "Just a Gigolo", starring also Marlene Dietrich, is another fantastic and controversial production, available on multiple streaming platforms.

     I must admit I made a mistake by not giving David Bowie enough credit for his acting. I was presumptuous, thinking that appearing in movies was driven financially after the success of his records or was perhaps a narcissistic expression of his deluded ego. I encourage you to experience his performance on the silver screen. There is something magnetic about this talented multi-artist who successfully crossed between music and film.

    Links: BFI - Bowie Season - Starman and the Silver Screen

Agnes Prygiel, London, 20.01.2022

What Are Dreams?

Insightful Journey Into The Human Mind

       Slightly psychedelic while at the same time gripping and imaginative, Maniac is an insightful journey into multiple universes inside the human mind. With its dreamlike landscapes and impressive alternative realities, the series gives you something to think about while at the same time leaves a mark with its artistry.

    Owen and Annie meet during a trial phase of a revolutionary drug designed to eliminate depression and suffering from the entire human experience. The testing consists of 3 phases. The first one confronts the subjects with their most painful trauma. The second one exposes them to dreamlike realities, loosely based on their own lives. In the third stage, a powerful emotional transformation allows them to leave their suffering behind and move on. The plan sounds straightforward, but soon, unexpected complications appear, threatening the safety of the patients.

   The idea brings to mind similar concepts from Inception or The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. What are dreams and the realities we experience in them? Identifying them with something meaningful adds value to nearly 35% of our existence spent on sleeping. The characters find relief in their dreaming minds. When they, however, dismiss those experiences as unreal or trivial, their emotional pain comes back.

        The production also shows that one can be misdiagnosed with mental illness, carrying a heavy burden of alienation. Overconfidence in labelling patients with psychiatric conditions is downgrading and unjustified as we still have limited knowledge of the complexity of the human brain.

    

    In Maniac, visually suggestive worlds transform into exciting landscapes. The unfolding scenarios lead us in unpredictable directions. The title suggests drastic, heavy content, which is inaccurate for this intelligent and visionary production. Aside from the impressive leading characters played by Emma Stone (LaLaLand) and Jonah Hill (The Woolf of Wall Street), I was stunned by the performance of Sonoya Mizen in the role of Dr Fujita - the charismatic and formidable force pushing the experiment towards completion.

    

Agnes Prygiel, London 27.01.2022