Continuing my look through Volume 2 of the ‘Short Sharp shocks’ boxset. We have ‘Mingoloo’ a…frankly bizarre piece that is probably the complete opposite of a ‘Short Sharp shock’ (unless the shock is how much the writer/director had only contempt for women) but is strangely surreal enough so as to he compelling.
The plot? A sculpture awakens from a strange dream where he’s compelled to create a statue of a dog in a Asian art style. While investors visit the studio, one of them spots the sculpture, assumes the artists apprentice made it and essentially tries to schmooze the statue out of her for nefarious purposes.
It’s basically a 20 minute borderline screwball comedy that most reminded me of the old Harry Enfield sketch ‘Women: Know your limits’ only, while Harry Enfields sketchs were super self aware and mocked that kind of attitude. This was VERY sincere in its opinion that women SHOULD only be there to support men and be pretty. Which I still can’t quite believe was still a thing as late as the late 50s…
The direction and cine are basic, but fine enough. There’s a fair few continuity errors across the board with this one. But it’s so daft that I actually kind of can’t hate it too much. Given everything I’ve seen in Volume 1 and disc 1 of Volume 2 so far…its actually one of the more standout pieces…I know that’s not saying much, but it is…I think it’s almost certainly worth catching at least once just to laugh at for how regressive it is as a work.
TYTD Reviews 