Cannibalism/The Cook

Hi Class,Since I wasn't able to be in class today, I just wanted to share my thoughts on the film we watched last week and the readings we went with it, and also wanted to hear other people's ideas, so please respond! I thought it was interesting in the Bartolovich reading when she talked about how The Cook is unique in talking about cannibalism because it shows modern day civilized people being cannibals rather than barbarians or more primitive human beings. I really do agree with her in the sense that it was a lot more effective in making me (the audience) think about themselves as being cannibals. Watching primitive humans that do not really exist anymore is not exactly relatable to a contemporary audience. I was able to relate and put myself in this film much more than Little Otik. A tree creature/monster eating humans did not have any sort of impact on me, I just felt like I was watching a fairytale/fiction movie that I consumed and didn't really think about (I only forced myself to think about it for the sake of this class). The Cook really disturbed me and made me ponder about what it was trying to say I think because it was a lot closer to real life, if that makes sense. The ending when she looks straight into the camera and says "Cannibal" is also very powerful, for I believe its the first time in the film where a character breaks that fourth wall, and its very striking and jarring. It really startled me a little, like "is she really talking to me?" Relating cannibalism to contemporary consumer society is definitely more effective when the actual film is in a modern setting we can understand.So basically, I think The Cook is a lot more effective than Little Otik...If anyone was making this a competition....ha