Watch Sickies Making Films

Sickies Making Films is a documentary film that takes a deep dive into the world of film censorship in the United States. The film is directed by Joe Tropea and produced by Skizz Cyzyk, and it features interviews with a range of experts and scholars in the field, as well as with filmmakers who have had their work censored or altered by government authorities.

One of the key themes of Sickies Making Films is the history of the Hays Code, a system of film censorship that was in place in the United States from the 1930s through the 1960s. The film examines the ways in which the Hays Code was enforced, and how it affected the content of films during this period. It also looks at the ways in which filmmakers tried to work around the code, by using symbolism and other techniques to suggest taboo subjects without actually showing them on screen.

The film also examines more recent attempts at film censorship, such as the "voluntary" rating system that was introduced in the 1960s. This system, which is still used today, is supposed to help parents make informed choices about what their children watch. However, the film argues that the system can be arbitrary and subjective, and that it often results in films being given overly harsh ratings for relatively minor content.

Alongside these historical and institutional issues, Sickies Making Films also looks at the personal stories of filmmakers whose work has been targeted by censors. One of the most prominent figures in the film is John Waters, whose cult classic Pink Flamingos was famously banned in several countries when it was released in 1972. Waters is shown talking about the challenges he faced in getting the film made and distributed, and about the ways in which he has continued to push the boundaries of acceptable content in his subsequent work.

Other filmmakers featured in the film include Howard Denis and Ross Freedman, both of whom have had their films censored or altered by government authorities. Denis discusses his experiences with the Canadian Board of Censors, which demanded the removal of scenes from his films that it deemed too violent or sexual. Freedman, meanwhile, talks about the ways in which his 1981 documentary called A Perfect Candidate was altered by television networks in order to make it more palatable to mainstream audiences.

Throughout the film, the interviews with filmmakers and experts are interspersed with clips from a range of films, both mainstream and obscure. These clips are used to illustrate the points being made in the interviews, and to show the diversity of approaches that filmmakers have taken to dealing with censorship.

One of the strengths of Sickies Making Films is the way in which it balances a serious discussion of important issues with a light and entertaining tone. The film is never dry or academic, even when it is tackling complex material, and it includes plenty of humor and wit. This tone reflects the personality of its subjects, many of whom are artists and provocateurs who have made a career out of pushing boundaries.

Overall, Sickies Making Films is an illuminating and entertaining exploration of a topic that is increasingly important in our current political and cultural climate. By shining a light on the various forms of censorship that filmmakers have faced over the years, the film encourages viewers to think critically about the limits of free expression, and to appreciate the ways in which filmmakers have used their craft to challenge the status quo.

Sickies Making Films is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.