There are 2 types of rebellious code-era film-makers: You have people like [Alfred Hitchcock]() who's career is based on walking on the very edge of the censorship rules, and then not knowing what to do when these rules are lifted with the introduction of the MPAA rating system. And you have people like [Stanley Kubrick]() who makes fucking *Lolita* under the code and then rejoices when the rules are lifted and makes fucking *A Clockwork Orange*. Yet, the question still stands: WTF is A Clockwork Orange?

So the main character of *A Clockwork Orange* is a deranged 15 year old motherfucker Alex DeLarge ( [Malcolm McDowell]() ) *( he starts the book as a 15 year old, Malcolm was in his mid 20s during the filming for legal reasons )*. He beats people up, he rapes, he drives like a maniac, he drinks alcoholic milk ( later referenced as the drink of choice by *The Dude* in *The Big Lebowski* ), he speaks half-Russian... He is, all and all, checks off, all of the checklist of the terrible terrible juvenile delinquent motherfucker.

But then he gets cured.

Twice.

The original novel by [Anthony Burgess]() tries to give Alex a redemption ark. The original British version of the book ( not the American version, on which Kubrick based the film ) had an additional 21st chapter, where Alex decides to be good even though he doesn't have to be good anymore...

Let me explain.

So we start the movie with Alex as the motherfucker. He breaks all of the laws. Does all of the sins. He even jerks off to dancing Jesus figurines while blasting Beethoven 9th and thinking of violence. But due to his fucked up fucked-uppery he gets betrayed by his droogs and ends up in prison.

In prison he meets the bible. Or more like he meets the book that talks about all kinds of fucked up stories, that Alex can fantasize about. But more importantly he meets a priest. A priest through which he can get out of prison early by participating in the Ludovico Technique treatment program.

Ludovico? As in Ludvig Van Beethoven... lol

The Ludovico treatment feels kind of like MK Ultra. The scientists brainwash the fuck out of Alex, so he would have a gag reflex every-time he would even think about any of the wrongdoings he was doing.

Side-note: For those of you who love Stanley Kubrick conspiracy theories, you may add this one to the list. MK Ultra ( among other US government related controversies ) were leaked to the press between 1973 and 1977, while *A Clockwork Orange* was released in 1971. Did he know?

In any-case, Alex was cured. He was no longer bad. He was all good. Except now, everybody can abuse the fuck out of Alex. Because he can't do shit to protect himself. Every thought of any violence ( even in self defense ) makes him feel ill.

Through a series of unfortunate consequences Alex ends up killing himself. Thought unfortunately surviving the attempt. But due to the physical trauma, the rehabilitation cured him both from the self inflicted wounds and from the Ludovico treatment.

He was cured again.

So wait the fucking second. Does the movie assert that being an ultra-violent rapist, drunk driver, bully motherfucker, is actually a good thing? I mean [Corruption of the audience]() right?

Many people tried parsing down what the fuck *A Clockwork Orange* actually means. At least the version that Kubrick made into a movie ( he knew about the 21st chapter and decided not to put it in ). 

From one side, people argue, that it is a movie that deconstructs treatment of prisoners. And while other movies might make it easier to see the injustices of the prison system, by making the main character wrongfully convicted. In Kubrick's case, he probably wanted to deconstruct it properly, and for that the criminal in question should have been actually a bad person. Otherwise you are not actually asking the correct question.

But people often dig into Kubrick films a bit too obsessively. Did *The Shinning* prove he faked the moon landing? People think it did because of the shape of a drawing on the carpet. And the coincidence of Danny ( the little boy ) wearing an *Apollo 11* sweater. Did [Eyes Wide Shut](/reviews/Eyes_Wide_Shut) warned us about Epstein? I mean maybe... Marvin Minsky knew Kubrick, Epstein ( and Stallman ), so why not...

But here is a thing. While other film-makers talk extensively about the meaning of their films, Kubrick avoided it. In his interviews he is dodging the questions of meaning of his films. He is hiding the intent on purpose. We wants all of us to get fucking obsessed and start looking for the meaning ourselves. He wants us to rabbithole-maxx the hell out his films.

Wait... it makes a hell of a lot of sense now. The contradictory and plain weird as fuck aspects of Kubrick's films could be explained away with one little thing.

He was Jewish.

**Happy Hacking!!!**