Hard to Watch

Weve never had better access to movies than we do today. Thanks to streaming services, video-on-demand, boutique physical media, repertory theaters, and the wild frontiers of the internet, we have ready access to a huge range of titlesHollywood classics, art films from around the world, and audacious contemporary works are all right at our fingertips.Yet, despite this embarrassment of riches, most of us gravitate to the popular and familiar, barely scratching the surface of whats available. According to philosopher Matthew Strohl, were doing ourselves a disservice by overlooking the range of so-called difficult movies. Hard to Watch is a joyous celebration of cinema that might seem boring, pretentious, or offensive at first glance but that offers its own distinctive rewards when we give ourselves over to it. Writing with infectious enthusiasmand a refreshing lack of condescensionStrohl discusses everything from the challenging late works of beloved directors like Terrence Malick and David Lynch to such visionary but divisive films as Alain Resnaiss Muriel, or the Time of Return, Chantal Akermans Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, and Julia Ducournaus Titane, evocatively showing why they''re worth the time and effort to engage with, and how to get the most out of them.Whether youre a film lover looking to step up your game or just someone whos bored with Netflix, Hard to Watch is a brisk and accessible guide to expanding your horizons.