Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies. Peter Brook, 1963.

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Edition screened: Criterion Blu-ray #43, released 2013. English language. Runtime approximately 90 minutes.

Summary: Killing and mutilation of pigs.

Details: There are two pig killing sequences.

1) The first begins at 27:08 when a small pig is pursued by the boys, cornered and killed with sharpened poles at 27:33. We see the boys yelling and stabbing and hear the pig squealing, but don’t see the actual death. The film returns to Ralph at the fire site, 27:36-29:32. From 29:32 through 33:20 are vignettes of the dead pig being hauled to the fire site, cooked and eaten. This sequence ends with Jack wearing the skin of the pig’s face as a mask, 33:23-33:35.

2) The second sequence occurs 58:20 through 1:01:52. The first 15 seconds are of the pig being pursued and stabbed as in the previous scene, followed by 22 seconds of the boys mutilating the pig (off-screen), laughing and discussing their actions. The famous mounting of the pig’s head on a pole and Simon’s meditative experience watching the flies gather on that offering occurs 59:40-1:01:52.

The boys’ behavior is violent and stupidly adult-like, but the actual visual images presented are not horribly graphic. If you skip these scenes, note that the first one contains the major confrontation and power struggle between Jack and Ralph, resulting in Jack striking Piggy and breaking his eyeglasses. The second scene is intercut with dialogue among the more peaceful faction of boys who acknowledge that trouble is eminent.

@ BL