Stanley Kubrick’s iconic A Clockwork Orange (1971) follows Alex, a charismatic but ultraviolent teenage delinquent in dystopian future Britain, who leads his “droogs” in drug-fueled crime sprees, narrating in futuristic slang (Nadsat). After being caught and imprisoned for murder, he undergoes the controversial Ludovico Technique, a psychological aversion therapy that conditions him to feel physically ill at the thought of violence, effectively removing his free will. Released as a “cured” citizen, he faces societal rejection and political manipulation, asking us to question the ethics of state control, the nature of free will, and whether true morality can exist without the freedom to choose.
Country: UK, US
136 minutes, in English
Disclaimer: This film contains some difficult subject matter, including violence and nudity, which may be triggering for some viewers.
FREE for members. Non-members: $10—your ticket to this screening includes admission to Contemporary Calgary. Our galleries are open from 12-5 PM for viewing prior to attending the program.