"Modify" (2005)From Netflix: "Introducing viewers to people who've explored branding, piercing, tattooing, tongue splitting and every body modification imaginable, this striking documentary plumbs the thoughts of artists and their human canvases to reveal how and why they've gone to such extremes to express themselves. The groundbreaking film also features an original soundtrack from more than 20 new musical artists."
The first thing I have to mention is that the quality of the movie on the Netflix streaming function is BEYOND crap. That is of course, no fault of the movie itself, but it did affect my experience of watching it.
Another note: this movie is NOT for the squeamish. It deals with several different forms of body modification, including a graphic and in-depth look at plastic surgery. If you don't like blood and guts, prepare to look away in some parts! it was gross enough that I let the movie run and just listened to it without watching it for about 4 minutes because I couldn't handle all the insides I was seeing...
And...there's LOTS of UP CLOSE GENITALS getting pierced. You have been warned.
That being said, I am way too squeamish for this movie. Watching this is a challenge...
I am all for freedom of expression, and I myself at my peak had three tattoos (well, I still have those) and had 12 piercings (I've only got 8 now), but I just can't handle WATCHING someone getting these things done. The tattooing is the least of it, that I'm fine with watching. Even the piercings for the most part aren't so difficult to watch. But when they start getting into the surgeries, the suspensions, and the skin implants, it becomes a but much for me. I don't know if it's because I imagine the pain of that act, or if it's just my natural "that's-not-natural" urge, but I can't help but shield my eyes or look away for most of this film.
In any case, it's remarkable to hear the stories of the people featured in the movie and to find out why they have done the things they have, and the motivation behind their modifications...I always like to hear stories behind people's tattoos, and everyone of mine has a story behind it. Piercings I usually have done just because I think they look good, but I also kinda like the attention. Everyone has their reasons, some spiritual, some for shock value, but always something unique because each of these people are unique. It also shows how damn near everyone in our society has had a body modification at some point, and yet they still are prejudiced against people that have had modifications that are perhaps a bit different than theirs.
Definitely worth watching, super interesting film...even if you end up looking away half the time like I did :)
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