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5.6/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 5.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Uncle Si and the Sirens remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Right, so, Uncle Si and the Sirens. This isn't one for your Saturday night popcorn crowd, unless your idea of fun is digging through dusty film archives. If you’re really into seeing how early cinema tackled… well, suggestive content, then maybe give it a peek. Otherwise, honestly? You’ll probably just scratch your head and move on. 🕰️
The premise is simple, almost comically so. You got Uncle Si, a farmer. Seems a bit bored with his lot, I guess. He decides to build a television. Just like that. A TV. Now, the actual construction part, it’s not exactly a detailed how-to. It’s more like a few quick shots of him fiddling with some wires and boxes, and poof, he's got himself a working set.
And what does he tune into? Not the news, not some early variety show. Nope. He tunes into these "sirens," which the plot clearly spells out as nude girls. It’s handled in a very… *of its time* way. You don’t get anything explicit, of course. It’s all about the implication, the farmer’s reaction, and a bit of blurry, suggestive movement on the screen he built. The film really leans on your imagination here. Maybe a bit too much, for modern eyes.
What struck me most was how earnest it all felt, despite the cheeky subject. Like, Uncle Si isn't some leering creep. He's more like a kid who found a secret candy stash. His eyes just kinda widen, and he gets this dumbfounded smile. It’s less about actual titillation and more about the sheer novelty of it all. The magic of a box showing distant images, even if those images are just… ladies dancing.
The pacing is a bit odd. It takes its sweet time setting up Si and his farm life, then rushes through the TV-building montage. Then it slows right down again to focus on his reactions to the "sirens." One reaction shot lingers so long it becomes kinda funny. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters, a lot.
You also gotta wonder about the logistics. Where exactly are these "sirens" broadcasting from? Is there a secret early-20th-century nude-girl TV station? 📡 The film doesn’t bother with those details. It just presents it as fact, and you're meant to roll with it. It’s charming in its complete disregard for any kind of realism beyond the immediate gag.
The visual quality, as you’d expect from something this old, isn't exactly pristine. Lots of grain, some flickering. But it adds to the charm, in a way. Makes it feel more like a discovered relic. The set for Uncle Si's house is super basic. A table, a chair, that's about it. The world outside his window? Who knows.
One small thing that got me: the way he adjusts the aerial. It's this tiny, almost perfunctory gesture. Like he knows *exactly* where to point it for the good stuff. It's a quick beat, easy to miss, but it makes you chuckle a little at the farmer’s sudden expertise in TV reception.
It's hard to call it a "good" movie in the traditional sense. There’s no arc, no real conflict beyond Si's personal discovery. It's more of a short, visual gag stretched out just enough to make a point, or maybe just to exist. It definitely feels like someone took notes during or immediately after watching the movie. Like, this film is a snapshot of what passed for mild scandal or cutting-edge novelty back then. 📺
So, should you watch it? If you're studying film history, or just have a morbid curiosity for *really* old, slightly awkward films, sure. It’s a quaint, peculiar piece. But don't expect to be entertained in any modern way. It's a time capsule, and a pretty dusty one at that. Not profound, not visually stunning. Just… a farmer, his homemade TV, and some suggestive pictures. 🤷♀️
IMDb —
1922
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