The Wicker Man

Jill · 19th July 2001, 01:49 AM

Back in 1992, I used The Wicker Man in my 2300-level Sophomore Literature class at The University of Texas in Arlington. I remember vividly that I was careful to include a disclosure in my syllabus that the film would be shown, cautioning the students that some of them might be disturbed with certain elements of the film. Sure enough, during closing conferences with my students at the end of the semester, one student, an Indian girl of about 19 who was also of Brahman caste, came into my office in tears! I finally managed to calm her down, but she was very shocked by the fact that Sergeant Howie was burnt alive in the sacrifice, and that nobody came to his rescue. What shocked me was her reaction, considering that women are sometimes burned alive for various "criminal" offenses in her culture, like abortion or committing adultery. Others in the class expressed some shock, but nothing like her reaction. Did any of you react similarly the first time you saw it? What fascinated you most about this film?
Anyway, I wanted to share my experience of the film. I had managed to find a used copy of the VHS to show. Does anyone know where I might get a copy of the screenplay? It was difficult to teach it without a written copy, although we all got through it.

19th July 2001, 02:30 AM

Hi, Jill.

Sorry, I don't know where you can get the screen play.

It's not really my place to suggest this, but that seldom stops me: You might want to edit your post so that, at the top, it says "SPOILER ALERT." Then, when people who haven't seen the movie start reading your post, they'll have the option of not reading what happens at the climax of the movie without warning.

Cheers!

Greg Harris · 19th July 2001, 10:17 PM

Love the wickerman...

Just wanted to say somewhere that I am off to Spain tomorow for two weeks :) thats the longest time i have had without the internet for ages! How will I cope... I am sure i will..

cya later

Juan Aneiros · 19th July 2001, 11:03 PM

Me too. I find the film to be very funny, like a comedy in a way. Then again, I have a very strange sense of humour.

I'll be off to Spain on the 31st too, 2 weeks without a computer to me is like a day without food, wine or cigarretes.

**Colin Bushby** · 20th July 2001, 10:20 PM

A very dark comedy bordering on the black maybe, never the less, one of the if not the favourite films of Mr. Lee.
What is it with Spain. eh? we are off there for a fortnight at the end of next month. As far as not having the computor, My son formatted ours and lost everything and we were without the internet for 13 days and it was a killer.

Juan Aneiros · 21st July 2001, 02:24 AM

Collin, Spain is the in-place to be.