A couple of other possibilities--

Darren Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN (2006), which works off both the Jewish Kabbalah and Mayan myth.

The late Soviet film CHUCHELO/SCARECROW (Rolan Bykov, 18983), which seemed when I saw it long ago as an allegory of Stalinist repression.  I'm not sure if it's still available at all.

Istvan Szabo has been mentioned already, but I'd draw particular attention to MEETING VENUS (1991), which uses a symphony rehearsal for a staged production of TANNHAUSER as a rather overt allegory of the politics of post-Cold War Europe.

And speaking of orchestras, try Fellini's ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL (1978) as an allegory of Italian politics.

Souleymane Cisse's YEELEN/BRIGHTNESS (Mali, 1987), although that example begins to beg the difference between the "mythic" and the "allegorical," if there is one.

Kurosawa's YOJIMBO (which began as the politically allegorical thriller RED HARVEST by Dashiell Hammett) looks like a Cold War allegory--note in particular Mifune's closing line in the film.

Don Larsson
___________________________________________________
"When something is empty, fill it.  When something is full, empty it.  When you have an itch, scratch it."   --Dieter Dengler

Donald F. Larsson, Professor
English Department, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mail: 230 Armstrong Hall, Minnesota State University
        Mankato, MN  56001
Office Phone: 507-389-2368
________________________________________
From: Film and TV Studies Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jonathan Cullum [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 8:06 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SCREEN-L] Allegorical (Hollywood) films

These come to mind...

-THE FLY, David Cronenberg.  You'll find popular press reviews
examining the film as an allegory about the AIDS epidemic.

-MULHOLLAND DRIVE, David Lynch.  Interesting film techniques, yes.
Meaning beyond the surface, maybe.

-INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and a lot of other 1950s sci-fi, as an
allegory for McCarthyism, tension over real or suspected Communism,
etc.

-NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, George A. Romero.  Civil Rights, Vietnam

-LOLITA, Adrian Lyne.  Note the devilish editing of Frank Langella's
scenes as Quilty.

Jonathan Cullum, M.A.

>>> Michelle Langford <[log in to unmask]> 3/3/2009 6:24 PM >>>
I'd also like to include a couple of Hollywood films which have been
read
allegorically. In particular ones which are not necessarily
allegorical
simply on a narrative level, but use interesting film techniques to
alert
the viewer to meaning beyond the surface.

Oh, and please don't mention Star Wars!!!!

All suggestions welcome.
PS. I have a Benjamin/Deleuzian take on allegory.

Warm regards,
Michelle Langford


Dr Michelle Langford
Lecturer
School of English, Media and Performing Arts
The University of New South Wales
Sydney 2052 Australia
Room: Webster 311O
Phone: + 61 2 9385 4489
Fax: + 61 2 9385 6812



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