CULTFILM: W.R. Mysteries of the Organism

W.R. Mysteries of the Organism
by Dušan Makavejev
Yugoslavia, 1971, 85 min., German, Russian, English w/ English subtitles

An homage to the work of psychologist Wilhelm Reich, matched with a story about a Yugoslavian girl’s affair with a Russian skater. Sexual repression, feminist uprising, street manifestations and the orgone theory are explored.

Hard to put this wild adventure into words or a genre, but it truly is a hidden gem (winner of the Palme d’Or in 1971, nevertheless), and a rare 35mm print from the archives of the BUTFF (B-movie, Underground & Trash Film Festival).

With an introduction by Cas Buys, lecturer of Philosophy of Science at Erasmus University, and specialized in the role of trauma in modern neuroscience en psychoanalysis. He writes:
Wilhelm Reich can easily be described as one of the most eccentric thinkers in Western history. His psychoanalytic work linked sexuality to the emergence of states such as fascism and communism. In later life, he began to see sexuality as an expression of a kind of life energy, which he attempted to harness with his infamous cloudbuster machines, even attempting to influence the weather. In his final years, he waged an intergalactic battle against aliens until the FDA arrested him, where he died in prison.
Who was this man? A genius or a truth teller? Before the film, I would like to address this question by taking a look at his life and his thinking.

Cineville valid at the door!