Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
Movie · Documentary

"If the camera is predatory, then the culture is predatory.” In this eye-opening documentary, celebrated independent filmmaker Nina Menkes explores the sexual politics of cinematic shot design. Using clips from hundreds of movies we all know and love – from 'Metropolis' to 'Vertigo' to 'Phantom Thread' – Menkes convincingly makes the argument that shot design is gendered. 'Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power' illuminates the patriarchal narrative codes that hide within supposedly “classic” set-ups and camera angles, and demonstrates how women are frequently displayed as objects for the use, support, and pleasure of male subjects. Building on the essential work of Laura Mulvey and other feminist writers, Menkes shows how these not-so-subtle embedded messages affect and intersect with the twin epidemics of sexual abuse and assault, as well as employment discrimination against women, especially in the film industry. The film features interviews with an all-star cast of women and non-binary industry professionals including Julie Dash, Penelope Spheeris, Charlyne Yi, Joey Soloway, Catherine Hardwicke, Eliza Hittman, Maria Giese, and Rosanna Arquette. The result is an electrifying call-to-action that will fundamentally change the way you see, and watch, movies.

2022 · 1h 47m
  • 69%
Starring Joey Soloway, Rosanna Arquette, Catherine Hardwicke
Director Nina Menkes

Trailers

  • Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
    Documentary

Related

Cast & Crew

  • J‌S
    Joey Soloway
    Self
  • Rosanna Arquette
    Self
  • Catherine Hardwicke
    Self
  • Julie Dash
    Self
  • Eliza Hittman
    Self
  • Charlyne Yi
    Self
  • L‌M
    Laura Mulvey
    Self
  • P‌S
    Penelope Spheeris
    Self
  • I‌K
    Iyabo Kwayana
    Self
  • N‌M
    Nina Menkes
    Director
  • N‌M
    Nina Menkes
    Producer

About

Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power

Documentary

"If the camera is predatory, then the culture is predatory.” In this eye-opening documentary, celebrated independent filmmaker Nina Menkes explores the sexual politics of cinematic shot design. Using clips from hundreds of movies we all know and love – from 'Metropolis' to 'Vertigo' to 'Phantom Thread' – Menkes convincingly makes the argument that shot design is gendered. 'Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power' illuminates the patriarchal narrative codes that hide within supposedly “classic” set-ups and camera angles, and demonstrates how women are frequently displayed as objects for the use, support, and pleasure of male subjects. Building on the essential work of Laura Mulvey and other feminist writers, Menkes shows how these not-so-subtle embedded messages affect and intersect with the twin epidemics of sexual abuse and assault, as well as employment discrimination against women, especially in the film industry. The film features interviews with an all-star cast of women and non-binary industry professionals including Julie Dash, Penelope Spheeris, Charlyne Yi, Joey Soloway, Catherine Hardwicke, Eliza Hittman, Maria Giese, and Rosanna Arquette. The result is an electrifying call-to-action that will fundamentally change the way you see, and watch, movies.

69%

TOMATOMETER
Average 6.8
Reviews 52
Fresh 36
Rotten 16

Information

Studio
Kino Lorber
Released
2022
Run Time
1 hr 47 min
Rated
Unrated n/a
Region of Origin
United States
© 2022 Kino Lorber

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (⁨Dolby 5.1⁩, AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
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  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
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  • Singapore
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  • Vietnam

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