David Cronenberg: Interviews with Serge Grünberg

by Serge Grünberg, David Cronenberg

Ever since his emergence from the Canadian cinematic underground during the late 1960s, David Cronenberg has challenged and disturbed audiences with works that range from cutting-edge commercial to cult-fave studies in "body horror" and existential despair. This collection of new interviews by critic Serge Grünberg examines Cronenberg from his career's uncertain beginnings through his ascendancy to master filmmaker. Cronenberg talks candidly about aesthetics, censorship, sexuality, the straightjacket of political correctness, and the ephemeral sense of reality in an age saturated with mass media. Each of his landmark films is discussed in detail, accompanied by stills, rare handbills and posters, and storyboards that show the creative process at work. Detailing both his textbook masterpieces — works like Videodrome, Naked Lunch, and The Fly — and his more edgy films such as the transsexual romance M. Butterfly and the bloody cyberpunk epic Existenz , these interviews shed light on one of cinema’s most talented and misunderstood creators.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Canon

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cronenberg is as usual fascinating when talking about his movies. However, his interviewer in this case thinks Cronenberg is the greatest artist ever to have graced the face of the earth, which is maybe overstating things just a tad. His questions get to be annoying in that way where an overly academic interviewer wants his personal theories about an artist's intent to be confirmed, meaning half of Cronenberg's answers start with, "I wouldn't put it that way, but..."

The book Cronenberg On Cronenberg is a much better collection of interviews.

[merlin ⭐ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bof, ce livre pourrait évoquer bien plus mais bien sûr ne le fait pas parce que grunberg adore s'entendre parler

[Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I have to read Grunberg lure Cronenberg into getting into another cyclical conversation about the 90s boogeyman of political correctness or whatever I'll tear my hair out. Cronenberg proves a great interviewee.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Passage (inutile) de victimisation exaspérante dans le livre :

SG: Ça me rappelle une critique new-yorkaise chez qui je devais habiter, lors d'un court séjour, sur les conseils d'un ami qui la connaissait. Elle m'avait envoyé un fax, très sérieux, où elle me disait que ses co-locataires étaient lesbiennes et donc un peu inquiètes à l'idée de partager leur appartement avec un homme. Elle m'avait donc demandé de lui envoyer un curriculum vitæ où j'aurais exposé mes positions politiques. Ça m'a fait l'effet de quelqu'un me disant que ses amis n'aimaient pas les juifs...

DC: Faites en sorte de leur faire savoir que ça ne vous plaît pas trop d'être juif et que vous auriez souhaité ne pas l'être... Elles vous accepteront peut-être.

SG: J'ai ainsi compris qu'en Amérique, il est des situations où il faut avoir honte d'être mâle.

DC: Et blanc, et tout le reste...

SG: ...ce qui, après tout, n'est pas ma faute.

DC: Si, si... c'est votre faute. Vous pourriez vous faire opérer. Mais c'est exactement ça! En Amérique, être un mâle blanc d'origine bourgeoise est une faute dont on doit se sentir atrocement coupable. Il faut se sentir coupable par rapport aux Noirs, aux lesbiennes, etc. C’est dingue, bien sûr ; l’Amérique est un pays complètement fou.

[Dylan Kiewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

exceedingly good book of interviews with the crone man by a cahier man. just two incredibly intelligent men picking apart the medium as practiced by Cronenberg. shunning hollywood machinery, professionalism, and color by number way of thinking Crone has made and continues to make movies that just hit different. that throw you off axis, make you look differently at things like television, children in puffy jackets, video games, plastic, sex, cars, sex in cars, flies, jeff goldblum. Crone is tops for me and this book provides a probing look inside his skull.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

not a bad wee read if you like the man you'll enjoy the book for a few hours

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passing bus reading