54 years ago, a sulfurous film was released that remained banned for decades

54 years ago, a film at the heart of much controversy made its debut on screens. Considered scandalous by some, this feature film was banned in several countries, sparking debate and fascination for decades.

A cultural shock upon its release

When Stanley Kubrick unveiled in 1971 his film adaptation of the novel byAnthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orangeno one expected such a shock wave. While the public had already been shaken by controversial works like “Bonnie and Clyde” or “The Wild Bunch”, the radical darkness of the film, plunging directly into a world of urban violence and immorality, lastingly upset spectators and critics. Depicting without filter the violent wandering of groups of juveniles, Kubrick goes much further than his predecessors, asking the burning question of the limits of representation on screen.

Controversy and extreme reactions

Very quickly, A Clockwork Orange becomes the center of a controversy rarely equaled. In the United Kingdom, several criminal cases involving teenagers explicitly cite the film. If some accused claim not to have seen it, the British media do not hesitate to associate the acts with the toxic influence of the work. The media pressure is such that Kubrickworried for his family and exasperated by the accusations, himself requested the withdrawal of the film from British cinemas. For almost thirty years, he remained practically invisible across the Channel.

International censorship and defense of the director

The scandal crosses borders: several countries – Ireland, Spain, South Korea and even South Africa – decide purely and simply to ban or censor the feature film. Faced with these virulent criticisms, Kubrick takes a stand: “ Attributing such a strong suggestive power to a film goes against scientifically established facts… People do not do anything that is contrary to their deep nature, even under hypnosis. » Despite everything, the film’s sulphurous reputation grew over the years.

Legacy: between recognition and lasting influence

Despite an initial mixed critical reception – Roger Ebert speaks of “right-wing paranoia” and only gives it two stars out of four –, A Clockwork Orange attracts spectators en masse. It received major nominations at the Oscars (Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay), but lost to “The French Connection”. Critical circles nevertheless grant it increasing respect: the New York Film Critics Circle awards it its Best Film prize while the National Society of Film Critics multiplies the nominations.

Today freed from its original controversies, the masterpiece of Kubrick establishes itself as an absolute reference in dystopian cinema. His mark can be found in an entire generation of filmmakers – notably:

It is therefore impossible to conceal the central place that now occupies A Clockwork Orangenot only in the history of the seventh art, but also as an object of reflection on the subversive power of cinema.