Accident (Losey, 1967)
There is a huge disdain for "using" people in Losery's work, or perhaps it's something of a perverse fascination? Though often we see how class divisions create this sort of objectification of people on a lower social standing, on Accident, the tables are turned. Though still sitting comfortably as a financially comfortable professor, Stephen remains outside of aristocratic class. His student William though is from a long tradition of blue blood, and in this film is the exploited, as Stephen uses him exploits for his own pleasures and mindgames in Accident. This is perhaps the film that comes closest to reaching the extreme levels of The Servant in both it's mood and extreme approach. I almost want to call it a thriller, as two men compete intellectually and emotionally against each other, in a careless pursuit for individual superiority. Their spars are rarely, if ever, overt, but it's a constant competition intellectually, socially and sexually, to see who will rise above. It's fascinating as we watch Stephen's restrained and seemingly morally guided approach failing, only to have him take advantage of an extremely morally dubious situation to put himself ahead.
The Go-Between (Losey, 1970)
Taking a rather unprecedented twist on a romance between a farmer and a woman of high class, Losey brings them both to the same level, which is neither noble, nor evil, in what could easily have been a high passioned forbidden love story. The film is told from the perspective of a naive child who sits beyond the class of the house he is staying at for the summer, at first he doesn't quite understand the differences, though his pride in refusing to admit his mothr could not afford to buy him many nice clothes shows hints already of social conditionment. Turning thirteen in a very short amount of time, the young boy is suddenly aware of new feelings and desires that by lack of knowledge and general adolescent confusion that he cannot quite grasp. By virtue of his soft spokenness and kindness, the boy becomes the mesenger between the two lovers, the willing player in their game. He doesn't quite understand what he is doing, and when he becomes aware that there is something at work beyond just a business arrangement, he is only met with more questions. His inquisition puts into perspective the nature of the love afair, which Losey seems to indict as a carnal thrist,motivated by greed and carelessness. The class difference sheds little light on the emotions and actions of the affair, which is approached largely with coldness. Losey has a particular approach to emotion, one of detachment and understatedness. There is no denying that the couple feels for each other, but if it's just sex or something beyond is not quite as clear. The final moments though, as we move several decades into the future, Christie's character recounts just how beautiful and pure their love was... but the audience onscreen and off, don't quite feel the same way.
Thanks, that was an interesting reply. I'm practically the opposite. I don't like horror, not because it scares me, but because I often think it's pointless, particularly the supernatural kind. I'm seeing The Birds really soon though.
