Hard to Watch: How to Fall in Love with Difficult Movies

We have more access to movies than ever before, but we often stick to the popular and familiar. Hard to Watch is a celebration of cinema that offers its own rewards when we give ourselves over to it, discussing challenging late works of beloved directors and visionary but divisive films. It is a brisk and accessible guide to expanding our horizons, whether we are film lovers or just bored with Netflix.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2024
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press

We live in a golden age of cinema, with unprecedented access to a vast array of movies thanks to streaming services, video-on-demand, boutique physical media, repertory theaters, and the vast expanse of the internet. However, despite this abundance, most of us tend to stick to the familiar and popular, barely scratching the surface of the vast cinematic landscape. In his book Hard to Watch: A Joyous Celebration of Cinema That Might Seem Boring, Pretentious, or Offensive at First Glance but Offers Its Own Distinctive Rewards When We Give Ourselves Over to It, philosopher Matthew Strohl explores the world of difficult movies, those that may initially appear challenging, pretentious, or offensive but that offer unique and rewarding experiences when we engage with them. Strohl's writing is infectious, filled with enthusiasm and a refreshing lack of condescension, as he delves into the late works of beloved directors like Terrence Malick and David Lynch, as well as visionary but divisive films such as Alain Resnais' Muriel, or the Time of Return, Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, and Julia Ducournau's Titane. He convincingly argues why these difficult movies are worth the time and effort to engage with and provides practical tips on how to get the most out of them. Whether you're a film lover looking to step up your game or simply bored with Netflix, Hard to Watch is a brisk and accessible guide to expanding your horizons.

Streaming services, video-on-demand, boutique physical media, repertory theaters, and the vast expanse of the internet have given us unprecedented access to a vast array of movies. However, despite this abundance, most of us tend to stick to the familiar and popular, barely scratching the surface of the vast cinematic landscape. In his book Hard to Watch: A Joyous Celebration of Cinema That Might Seem Boring, Pretentious, or Offensive at First Glance but Offers Its Own Distinctive Rewards When We Give Ourselves Over to It, philosopher Matthew Strohl explores the world of difficult movies, those that may initially appear challenging, pretentious, or offensive but that offer unique and rewarding experiences when we engage with them. Strohl's writing is infectious, filled with enthusiasm and a refreshing lack of condescension, as he delves into the late works of beloved directors like Terrence Malick and David Lynch, as well as visionary but divisive films such as Alain Resnais' Muriel, or the Time of Return, Chantal Akerman's Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, and Julia Ducournau's Titane. He convincingly argues why these difficult movies are worth the time and effort to engage with and provides practical tips on how to get the most out of them. Whether you're a film lover looking to step up your game or simply bored with Netflix, Hard to Watch is a brisk and accessible guide to expanding your horizons.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493074341