User Score
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ACTS OF VIOLENCE is a behind the scenes documentary, structured in a scene by scene breakdown of all the incidents of violence in David Cronenberg's film, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. Directed by Cronenberg's wife, Carolyn Zeifman, who has been married to her subject for more than 26 years, it provides a new insight on the filmmaker -- reputed over the years to be the king of cinematic depravity because of his exploration of graphically violent and sexual themes. The documentary chronicles the easy-going, familial mood that the long time, loyal crew have long attested pervades a Cronenberg set, as well as the many unique challenges of the production and explores the film's many themes of violence, especially in America.
Director
Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Roughly chronological, from 3/96 to 11/96, with a coda in spring of 1997: inside compounds of Aum Shinrikyo, a Buddhist sect led by Shoko Asahara. (Members confessed to a murderous sarin attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995.) We see what they eat, where they sleep, and how they respond to media scrutiny, on-going trials, the shrinking of their fortunes, and the criticism of society. Central focus is placed on Hiroshi Araki, a young man who finds himself elevated to chief spokesman for Aum after its leaders are arrested. Araki faces extreme hostility from the Japanese public, who find it hard to believe that most followers of the cult had no idea of the attacks and even harder to understand why these followers remain devoted to the religion, if not the violence.
