Mechanical Orange (Clockwork Orange, the)

Production and year: USA, 1971 Genre: Drama, Science Fiction Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick Director: Stanley Kubrick Music: Rachel Elkind, Ludwig van Beethoven Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Mages, Adrienne Cori Medical topic: rehabilitation of prisoners using "pharmacological-shock" methods, dissocial personality disorder Description: Alex (McDowell) is sent to prison. Thanks to good behavior, he is offered the chance to participate in a special rehabilitation program, after which he will be allowed to leave the facility. The treatment involves the use of pharmacological agents, followed by participation in special sessions. During these sessions, the protagonist is placed in a straitjacket and fitted with a helmet containing electrical equipment. He is also unable to close his eyes due to specially attached wires. While watching images of violence, rape, and fascism in this manner, accompanied by Beethoven’s music, strange things happen to Alex. First, nausea sets in, followed by paralysis and a sense of helplessness. The goal of the treatment is thus to evoke similar reactions in the patient when he witnesses violence. After completing the treatment, Alex takes a test involving aggressive situations in front of the experiment supervisors and is released from prison. In the real world, however, nothing is the same. How will our hero adapt to life on the outside? How will society judge the government’s experiment? Kubrick has created a masterpiece. I highly recommend it.