David Cronenberg

David Cronenberg

People can interpret different things in different ways. Some people look at the Eiffel

Tower and say that it is a work of genius. Others may look at it as if it were the ugliest thing in

Europe. Two opposing views creates controversy. People look at the work of the well known

director, David Cronenberg, the same way. In my essay, I will not take a side, but I will clearly

and concisely outline and detail both sides of his work.

David Cronenberg was born May 15, 1943 in Toronto Ontario. His childhood was rather

disturbing, with abusive parents, and living a very sheltered life in the suburbs of Toronto for most

of his life. He went to the University of Toronto, where he studied film and producing and

direction. David’s first big screen success came to him in 1969 when his simple and tasteful film

"Stereo" got shot down at the box office. David was somewhat discouraged by this and in 1970

would shock the world with his first film of the horror or shock film industry that broke all the

limits.

"Crimes of the Future" was a large success at the box office and at he 1970 Cannes Film

Festival. Little did the public know, David Cronenberg was not finished there. The ideas he had

stored in his uncanny mind of his were peculiar, odd and extraordinary. With his continuing

success artistically, the public began to find his work vulgar and disturbing. In 1983, David

Cronenberg produced and directed the highly sucessful "The Fly." From that film on his work was

very controversial. The artists found his work deep, and meaningful, while the ordinary person

though it to be the work of a madman.

He had 5 more films to direct. "Dead Ringers" , "Naked Lunch", "Madame Butterfly",

"Crash" and "ExistenZ." As his films progressed they got either more artistic and meaningful or

more sickening. Naked Lunch was once again cheered at the 1991 Cannes Festival, but less than

he previous successes. His work is often stylish and experimental. With plots concerning the

aftermath of some disastrous biological mishap. The Fly and The Dead Zone prove this point.

These two movies in the 1980s have given David his cult status. David Cronenberg’s 1993

entitled, Madame Butterfly enraged critics even more but the artists found his work compelling.

It was at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival that the bomb was dropped.