- Associate professor
- Date
- Thursday 18 Jun 2020, 21:00 - 23:45
- Type
- General
- Location
KINO Rotterdam (Gouvernestraat 129-133, 3014 PM Rotterdam)
In 2020 ESPhil and KINO present a new film series: EUR KINOsofie. Several ESPhil professors have chosen one of their favourite films, for which they will present a philosophical introduction. In this third edition, we look at the film Falling Down (1993), with an introduction of Dr. Sjoerd van Tuinen.
Long before Breaking Bad and Joker, we had Falling Down, a film for which Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Batman Forever) was nominated for a Golden Palm in 1993. The film has a profound fascination for the victim of the modern city, who pursues his dream and takes revenge on society. Where does this fascination of films originate from? What does it tell us about contemporary society and its egalitarian promise of the market economy, that we see the loser-figure as protagonist, time after time. In his recent philosophical work, associate professor Sjoerd van Tuinen focuses on culture and the politics of cynism and resentment, and further elaborates on these questions. Note: 35 mm film presentation, without subtitles.
Falling Down (1993)
It is the 12th of June, 1991, Los Angeles, the hottest day of the year. A fired associate of the Department of Defence is caught up in traffic jams all morning. He decides to get out of the car and walk to his ex-wife’s house, where his daughter is having her birthday party. Yet, with his easily provoked character, he is infuriated by all the injustices he perceives in society during his walk. An almost retired LAPD officer clashes with the man, on his last working day.
