The Fright of Real Tears

Krzysztof Kieslowski Between Theory and Post-Theory

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by Slavoj Zizek

British Film Institute

Due/Published July 2001, 212 pages, paper

ISBN 0851707548

Here, Zizek challenge both cognitive-historicist accounts of cinema and conventional film theory. Urging a more complex understanding of Lacan and asserting that there is "another Lacan" to be considered, Zizek seeks to revitalize psychoanalytic approaches to cinema, in defiance of the reductions of "post-theory," and in so doing opens new pathways in cultural and critical thought.

Zizek's theoretical arguments are substantiated by analyses of the work of the polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski (1941-96), from his early documentary films of everyday life to the celebrated Decalogue and the Three Colors trilogy. In addition, Zizek characteristically adds to his text with asides concerned with everything from Christian doctrine and the New Age obscurities of much of today's popular culture to the nature of cyberspace, the films of David Lynch, 'multivitamin'-flavored fruit drinks (??:MB), and Kleist's reading of Kant. All righty then.

Contents

Preface--Colin MacCabe
Introduction: The Strange Case of the Missing Lacanians

Part One The Universal: Suture Revisited
1. Universality and its Exception
2. Back to the Suture
3. The Short-Circuit

Part Two The Particular: Sinthoms, Sinthoms Everywhere
4. 'Now I've got glycerine!'
5. Run Witek, Run
6. Children of a Lesser God

Part Three The Individual: Lacrimae Rerum
7. Displaced Commandments


• Network
• To live a lie
• The silent Father

Notes
List of Illustrations
Index