[8]

Twenty men who work menial jobs participate in an 11-day sociological experiment in which they are divided into two groups: prisoners and guards. The prisoners are told they will not have civil rights during the experiment and the guards are told they must maintain order without inflicting violence. The experiment spirals wildly out of control in just two days, ending not just in violence, but in bloodshed and fatalities.

I think this is a very important film about men and masculinity. It showcases the devastating extent to which power and humiliation completely govern men’s lives and form their sense of identity. It shows men for who they really are — the weaker and more dangerous sex, the one that needs more study and understanding than we’re prepared to admit. The Experiment shows how a group of powerless men can go mad with just a little power. I think the film is particularly relevant today, given the current state of police relations with the African-American community. But on a broader level, it shows how terrifyingly little nudging it takes to turn seemingly decent men into inhuman monsters. All it takes is a little shame. A little humiliation. Because those are the things that challenge masculine identity. Those things, all on their own, can make a man feel like he’s a woman. So until we destroy misogyny, shame and humiliation will continue creating monsters in our society.

So obviously The Experiment is a movie right up my alley. But you don’t have to bring a gender studies angle to appreciate it. It’s a tight, tense, psychological thriller. It’s well shot, well paced, and well acted. I was dubious about the love relationship (aren’t I always?), but it turns out to serve a respectable purpose by the end of the movie. Moritz Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run) is terrific in the leading role, first showing us the false bravado we usually associate with men, and eventually showing us the genuine insecurity and fear beneath the facade.

All our facades.