A Clockwork Orange: Kubrick’s Cult-classic

'A Clockwork Orange' is a 1971 dystopian crime film directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film was based on Anthony Burgess 1962 novel of the same title. The film simultaneous raises multiple socio-political issues. But, the film is better known for its realistic, disturbing and violent depiction of the life of the protagonist Alex, played by Malcolm McDowell. Alex and his 'droogs' are into all types of anti-social activities. Alex's interests include classical music, especially Beethoven, rape and, what he calls, Ultra-violence. Most of the movie is narrated by Alex himself in Nadsat, a slang composed of Slavic (especially Russian), English, and Cockney rhyming slang.

Ever since its release, A Clockwork Orange has been in controversy, yet, like the book, film also gets recognition of a cult classic that every movie-buff must watch. The way the subject is handled, use of color and symbolism is some of the most original and distinguishing characteristics of the movie. This is a cinematic experience that a subject will cherish for life-time.

For Alex and his three droogs, the day begins in the evening. They get ready and goes to Milk-bar to have drug-laden Milk-plus. The film begins in this bar, all four of them having milk-plus. Their nights are normally eventful. On this specific day, they beat an old beggar. Then they had a fight with another such gang of Billyboy. Billyboy and his droogs are at an empty drama-stage, about to rape a young lady and this gang reaches there and fights with them, not to save the girl, but just because the other gang is rival. They then drive to country-side and break into the home of writer F. Alexander, they beat him hard and then Alex rapes his wife while singing "singin' in the rain". The fight with Billyboy's gang, as it was depicted on stage, looked like drama within drama. While the beating and rape at the country house show the real face of violence these teenagers have in their minds. Alex’s taste for classics and his violence make a statement that good taste doesn't guarantee a saner human being. 

Next day, because of Alex's constant absence from the school, his probation officer visits him and warns him about his mis-doings. After he leaves, Alex gets ready and goes to the market and from a music shop he lifts two teenage girls and has sex with them. The sex-scene is shown in fast-forward which means that it is nothing but a routine for Alex. Upon meeting his droogs again, he comes to know that his droogs are not happy with his leadership as they want more violence and bigger theft. Alex beats them and asserts his authority. They, then, go out and breaks into a house of a cat-lady. Alex attacks him with a sculpture shaped as phallus. Then, he tries to escape but one of his droogs betrays him and hits him with bottle on his head and leaves him for police. In custody, he is informed that the lady is dead and hence, Alex is now a murderer. He gets 14 years of imprisonment. 

In prison, Alex voluntarily offers himself as a test-subject for an aversion therapy known as Ludovico technique. Under this, Alex is strapped to a chair, injected with drugs, and forced to watch films of sex and violence with his eyes propped open. Alex becomes nauseated by the films. After two weeks, Alex's rehabilitation is demonstrated to a group of officials. Alex is, now, unable to fight back against an actor who taunts and attacks him, and becomes ill at the sight of a topless woman. It is a kind of snatching away the free-will from a person, but Ministers argument is that it will decrease the crime. 

Considering the success of the therapy, Alex becomes free. When he reaches home, he comes to know that his parents have sold all his things to pay his victims, and his room is also given on rent. Alex has to leave his home, on his way he bumps into the old beggar he has beaten earlier. The man along with his other friends beat Alex. He, by chance, meets his droogs who are now policemen and they, too, beat him severely. In all these instances, Alex is unable to defend himself; he is not even able to assert his right to his parents.

Alex wakes up at the home of writer F. Alexander. He could not recognize him but he is familiar with his name and Ludovico technique through newspaper reports and he decides to use him politically against the technique. He and his male servant take care of him. While taking bath, Alex sings "Singin' in the Rain", and Mr. Alexander identifies him. With the help of his colleague, he locks him up in the room and started playing Beethoven's Ninth symphony. Due to the adverse effect of the therapy, Alex couldn't stand the symphony and jumps out of the room. This sequence is a creative genius of Kubrick. In order to show Alex's perspective, he makes the camera fall to the ground from third floor and we can see from the eyes of the Alex.

When he opens his eyes, he is in a hospital-bed with broken bones. Some psychological tests are being run upon him. He finds that he is normal now, not averse to violence and sex. Minister comes to visit him and as a good-will offers to take care of him and giving him a job, in return Alex has to support him in the election campaign. They then play the Ninth Symphony on stereo and Alex contemplates himself having sex with a woman in front of an approving crowd, and the film ends.

The film is a staunch satire on socio-political system. The aversion therapy is nothing but robbing one's free-will and making one a robot. Goodness shouldn't come from such therapies, it should come from within. First half of the movie shows social destruction; no real friends, no family members, no social security. Everyone is self-centered, and too busy pleasing self through drugs, or violence, or sex, or art. Second half turns the film a political saga where Alex himself becomes a symbol for public in totalitarian rule. Alex is given drugs and then violence and sex becomes normal for him, they don't incite him. Like today, the public is given the drugs of religion, nationality, cast and color and they can go to any extent without using their head or they become completely averse to it. Today we have become numb to daily lynching and sexual violence. 

Both the political parties - Conservative and Liberal - want to use Alex for their gain and not the gain of the society. Alex here symbolizes the citizens of the state. Alex's droogs become policemen, and the ruling party likes to have a support from a person who bears a criminal background. Thus, both police and politics ready to merge with crime. The writer is captured and now he is denied to write 'subversive' material. This symbolizes the fact that authorities are afraid of free thoughts, and hence intellectuals are captured and boycotted. Authority just thinks about its image-makeover, rather than changing the society for better, so any dissident voice will be silenced. 

'A Clockwork Orange' has been a controversial film for plenty of reasons, but primarily it is infamous and at times banned due to its overt comments on the political system. Though 45 years old, the film is true till date and that's the charm of a true work of art.

Published in: The Hills Times – Heritage June 15, 2017. Page No. 07