Hard to Watch

Thanks to streaming services, video-on-demand, boutique physical media, repertory theaters, and the wild frontiers of the internet, we have ready access to a huge range of titles—Hollywood classics, art films from around the world, and audacious contemporary works are all right at our fingertips. Yet, despite this embarrassment of riches, most of us gravitate to the popular and familiar, barely scratching the surface of what’s available. According to philosopher Matthew Strohl, we’re doing ourselves a disservice by overlooking the range of so-called “difficult” movies. Hard to Watch is a joyous celebration of cinema that might seem boring, pretentious, or offensive at first glance but that offers its own distinctive rewards when we give ourselves over to it. Writing with infectious enthusiasm—and a refreshing lack of condescension—Strohl discusses everything from the challenging late works of beloved directors like Terrence