Hypocrites

This film marks a distinct change in the way narrative film making took place, with a plot that included flashbacks and interlaced story lines, this film is very interesting. While I personally did not enjoy it, it is hard to ignore how interesting this film is in terms of the history of modern film technique. The story, due to it's lack of sound, is quite difficult to follow, but instead presents itself as a series of allegorical quips meant to criticize the religious crowd of the time. The blatant presentation of truth as a naked woman (the naked truth) along with the way the wrath of God is simplified to the economies of a child (do something bad and you get hurt) will likely bother those inclined to religious belief or introspective thought.

I thought of myself as fairly knowledgeable when it comes to film history but I had honestly never heard of Lois Weber until taking my Film class. Her film, "Hypocrites" was a little bit confusing while I was watching, but after it was over, the real meaning of the film started to sink in.

I loved her use of characters as sort of a double meaning. For example, the naked woman represents truth; the priest represents Christianity as well as a modern man etc. For such an early film, it really was well thought out and intricate. I also found the film to be humorous in a way because the naked woman exposes the congregations desire for material things, something not really taught in the early Christian faith. I definitely think that the true meaning of this film cannot be felt at first viewing, it has to be thought out because Weber uses so much symbolism that it takes awhile to decipher. Also, I found "Hypocrites: to be extremely relevant in today's society. This is what I admire so much about Lois Weber's work,. She tackles the tough issues, which really makes her work timeless. On a bit of a side note, for the time period in which she made the film, it was shocking to see a completely nude woman but I think this is exactly what Weber was going for when she made the film.

Overall, I enjoyed the film after thinking about it but do not expect to be immediately riveted.

Lois Weber, ever the didact, presents heavy symbolism; an academic's dream movie. Plot is dispensed with in favor of moral commentary. Bracketed by a melodramatic schema showing a priest overwhelmed by his inattentive congregation's hypocrisies are a series of vignettes illustrating moral principles. Binding the schema and these vignettes is the concept of naked truth, able and willing to expose the variety of ways people stray from moral rectitude and lie to themselves doing so. Most of the vignettes are beautifully, if heavily, presented, but they never deal with the priest's own failing: self-righteousness. Most telling is the priest's heedlessness in helping his few devoted followers. Cinematic storytelling like this needs few titles.

Hypocrites by Lois Weber is a strong symbolic film. It is much different from other silent features of its day. The use of a nude must have really rattled folks of the day, but there is nothing sexual about it but rather symbolic that truth uncovers all. The film takes shots at religion, society, politics, and other institutions and shows them up against the nakedness of truth. Since most of these themes are timeless which the film shows by showing the hypocrisy of the medieval age the movie is still relevant today nearly a century after being made. The film itself has interesting effects such as double exposure and the camera isn't always stationary but instead moves around on a dolly. Overall one of the better silent films I have seen.

Grade B

Hypocrites follows the parallel stories of an early Christian ascetic and a modern minister with actor Courteney Foote in both roles, as well as numerous other actors in dual roles. The first story shows a medieval monk who has devoted his efforts to completing a statue of Truth, which gathers much attention from his village. However, when he reveals the statue, he is murdered by a mob when his work turns out to be an image of a naked woman. Gabriel, the lead of the contemporary story, is a minister for a congregation that is extrinsically motivated by the appearance of religion. In a dream, he leads his congregation up a steep path to find Truth, but because of their lack of faith and selfishness, he loses all of his followers on the rough terrain.

The director, Lois Weber, effectively achieves her goal of emphasizing hypocrisy in certain religious institutions. One of the film's inter-titles states, "Truth is welcome if clothed in our ideas" which emphasizes the double standards of the worshipers. This quote effectively sums up the basic message that Weber wanted to portray in the film. However, I feel that the use of inter-titles became a bit redundant. Her use of images and the portrayal from the actors was effective enough without needing any explanation.

From an entertainment standpoint, Hypocrites is slow and anticlimactic. There are numerous long takes that are used to emphasize the actions of the hypocrites. The film could benefit from some editing that would make it flow faster without losing the central message. However, when one considers the controversy involved in the topic as well as the risqué use of nudity, any cinephile would appreciate the influence of this film and of Lois Weber as it stands as social commentary.