Something Wild (1961)

An uncompromising portrait of trauma and post-traumatic stress becomes an allegory of desire and imprisonment. Garfein’s direction is lush and compositionally satisfying. The story relies on dialogue so scarcely that it sometimes feels like a silent film, a good one with expressive acting and a brilliant score. I found the ending utterly strange and dislocating, but perhaps that only adds to the complexity…I think this one demands repeat viewings to really unpack the implications here. I would love to say more about the excellent performances, the shockingly on-point depiction of PTSD symptoms and the maddeningly ambiguous developments in the second hour, but I think I really need to see it again before commenting further.