The dismissal of the Hays Code (1930-1968) extended opportunities for directors to discuss freedom in the cinema. The film "Howzer" is an example of rethinking "freedom" from Kant's perspective. The movie portrays the discourse of freedom in US society during the early 70s. At the same time, through the leading character, Howzer, the movie presents three limited dimensions of freedom: school, family and hospital. Howzer, a young boy, as intended Kant's vision of freedom, has a reason to leave home with a defined destination. He is absolutely free in his escape, because his reason is inherent in his own attitude. According to Kant's understanding, a human is free only if the cause of his/her action comes from within him/her. Howzer's rambling journey is a kind of practicing freedom which has been limited by others. The movie opens a good perspective for epistemological debates on freedom among children and adults.
2 Reviews
Howzat?
zeppo-228 January 2008
Young twelve year old, Howard (Howzer), daydreams of running away to sea on a pirate ship but his dull existence and bland home life do little in comparison, Hence he runs away with his slightly older sister (14), Debs to seek the glamour of Los Angeles and beyond.
And really, that's it...not a lot else happens in fact. They do run into a strange ex-Nam Viet, Nick, played by old timer Royal Dano, the only 'name' in this film, in the woods when they become lost. Taken by him and his somewhat backward son to the local store cum bar, they are also befriended by the owners and given food and drink. For some reason, none of the adults seem too anxious to contact the parents who in a separate subplot blame themselves and angst all over the place.
It all seems rather twee and naive in this modern age of paedophilia and child abuse, that two young kids can wander off and come to no real harm along the way. Yes, Nick's son does go a bit strange in his attentions to young Debs but this isn't overtly sexual to my mind and when he is shot by his own father, it does seem a over the top reaction. More to do with his son's mental problems and the father's drinking than the children's.
Eventually, the kids are reunited with their parents and all is well, except in the closing scene, Howzer dreams again of the high seas of adventure and attempts to run off once more.
Guess you could put this into the film category of 'coming of age,' but it's a strange little oddity and I'm not sure what the writer or director were trying to say here. I was left with the feeling that I was watching part of an unfinished series or had missed parts along the way.
And really, that's it...not a lot else happens in fact. They do run into a strange ex-Nam Viet, Nick, played by old timer Royal Dano, the only 'name' in this film, in the woods when they become lost. Taken by him and his somewhat backward son to the local store cum bar, they are also befriended by the owners and given food and drink. For some reason, none of the adults seem too anxious to contact the parents who in a separate subplot blame themselves and angst all over the place.
It all seems rather twee and naive in this modern age of paedophilia and child abuse, that two young kids can wander off and come to no real harm along the way. Yes, Nick's son does go a bit strange in his attentions to young Debs but this isn't overtly sexual to my mind and when he is shot by his own father, it does seem a over the top reaction. More to do with his son's mental problems and the father's drinking than the children's.
Eventually, the kids are reunited with their parents and all is well, except in the closing scene, Howzer dreams again of the high seas of adventure and attempts to run off once more.
Guess you could put this into the film category of 'coming of age,' but it's a strange little oddity and I'm not sure what the writer or director were trying to say here. I was left with the feeling that I was watching part of an unfinished series or had missed parts along the way.
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