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{{Short description|2005 American documentary film directed by Steve Anderson}}
{{Infobox Film | name = Fuck
{{distinguish|The F Word (2005 film){{!}}''The F Word'' (2005 film)}}
| image = Fuck_film_poster.jpg
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
| caption = The movie that dare not speak its name.
{{Infobox film
| director = Steve Anderson
| name = Fuck
| producer = Steve Anderson<br>Christine Beebe<br>Ian Kennedy<br>Christine A. Pechera
| image = Fuck_film_poster.jpg
| writer =
| alt = Fuck film poster with asterisk instead of letter U
| starring =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| music = Carvin Knowles
| director = ]
| cinematography = Andre Fontanelle
| producer = Steve Anderson
| editing =
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]
| distributor = Rainstorm Entertainment
| cinematography = Andre Fontanelle
| released = ], ] (] Film Festival)
| runtime = 93 min. | editing = Jayne Rodericks
| music = Carvin Knowles
| language = English
| studio = Mudflap Films<br />]
| budget =
| distributor = ]
| preceded_by =
| released = {{Film date|2005|11|07|]|2006|11|10|United States}}
| followed_by =
| imdb_id = 0486585 | runtime = 93 minutes
| country = United States
| language = American English
}} }}
'''''Fuck''''' (stylized as '''''F★CK''''') is a 2005 American documentary film by director ] about the word "]". The film argues that the word is an integral part of societal discussions about ] and ]. It examines the term from perspectives which include art, linguistics, society and comedy, and begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film '']''. Scholars and celebrities analyze perceptions of the word from differing perspectives. Journalist ] talks about the versatility of the word, and comedian ] states it can be understood despite one's language or location. Musician ] comments that the word contains power because of its taboo nature. The film features the last recorded interview of author ] before his suicide. Scholars, including linguist ], journalism analyst ] and '']'' editor ], explain the history and evolution of the word. Language professor ] observes that the word's treatment by society reflects changes in our culture during the 20th century.
{{For|the 1969 film by Andy Warhol|Blue Movie}}
'''''Fuck''''' (sometimes titled as '''F*''' or '''The "F" Word''') is a ] ] about the social, political, personal, historical, linguistic and artistic significance of the word ]. It features commentary by a variety of individuals, including linguists, comics, musicians, filmmakers, authors, porn stars, politicians, and media personalities as well as clips from ], ], ]'s ] performance, President ]'s ], various ] performances, ]'s ], ] and ].


Anderson was exposed to public conceptions surrounding the word "fuck" by comedian ]'s monologue "]". He named the film ''Fuck'' despite anticipating problems with marketing. Animator ] provided sequences illustrating key concepts in the film. The documentary was first shown at the ] on November 7, 2005, at ] in ].
==Trivia==
The film is dedicated to ], who committed ] not long after being interviewed.


''Fuck''{{'}}s reviews were generally mixed. Film critic ] called the documentary a battle between advocates of morality and supporters of freedom of expression. '']'' and the New York '']'' criticized its length and other reviewers disliked its repetitiveness&nbsp;– the word "fuck" is used 857&nbsp;times in the film. In his 2009 book '']'', law professor ] called the movie "the most important film using 'fuck'".
It uses the eponymous word 629 times over 93 minutes, for a total of 6.76 uses per minute.


==Content summary==
] provided the animated segues for the film.
]
''Fuck'' begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film '']'',<ref name="dvdverdict" /><ref name="sampeczek">{{cite news|work=Culture Wars|url=http://www.culturewars.org.uk/index.php/site/article/a_multifunctional_gem/|access-date=April 20, 2013|first=Sam|last=Peczek|title=A multifunctional gem: Fuck (2005), directed by Steve Anderson|date=March 27, 2009|publisher=Institute of Ideas|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624072028/http://www.culturewars.org.uk/index.php/site/article/a_multifunctional_gem/|archive-date=June 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by a clip from '']'' (specifically, from the episode "Sailor Mouth") which states that the word can be used as a "sentence enhancer".<ref name="dvdverdict" /> The documentary includes commentary from film and television writers ] and ]; comedians ], ], ] and ]; musicians ], ] and ]; political commentators ] and ]; and journalists and ].<ref name="baumgarten" /><ref name="financialtimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/698cbd2e-f85a-11dd-aae8-000077b07658.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/698cbd2e-f85a-11dd-aae8-000077b07658.html |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription|work=]|access-date=April 17, 2013|first=Karl|last=French|title=The slow road to revelation|date=February 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="jackgarner" /> The word "fuck" is used 857 times during the film.<ref name="glenngarvin" /><ref name="zoemak">{{cite news|first=Zoe|last=Mak|title= Director gives the F-word an airing|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/588263/director-gives-f-word-airing|access-date=April 22, 2013|work=]|location=Hong Kong|date=April 9, 2007|page=3; Section: News|quote= But in a movie now being shown in Hong Kong, it is heard no fewer than 857 times. It is 'the F-word', and it is still so controversial that on posters for the documentary of the same name, the 'u' has been replaced by an asterisk.}}</ref>


] reflects in the film on the versatility of the word and its ability to communicate across languages.<ref name="peterbradshaw" />|alt=Billy Connolly laughing]]
Co-Producer Christine Pechera is suffering from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Scholarly analysis is provided by '']'' publisher ], journalism analyst ]<ref name="sampeczek" /><ref name="aoscott">{{cite news|first=A. O.|last=Scott|author-link=A. O. Scott|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2006/11/10/movies/10ffff.html|work=]|title=No Way to Put This Delicately|date=November 10, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2013|page=E12 }}</ref> and '']'' editor ].<ref name="stamets" /><ref name="charlesbritton">{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Britton|title=Unrated documentary fails to spell out its case for 'The F-Word'|date=November 10, 2006|work=]|location=Torrance, California|page=R14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/fuck-925.shtml|work=Big Picture Big Sound|title=Fuck Movie Review by Joe Lozito|first=Joe|last=Lozito|date=November 9, 2006|access-date=April 25, 2013}}</ref> Language professor ] says, "You could think of that as standing in for most of the changes that happened in the 20th century, at least many of the important ones".<ref name="stamets">{{cite news|title=Documentary 'F*ck' is less than word perfect|work=]|date=November 17, 2006|first=Bill |last=Stamets |page=NC31}}</ref>


The film next features author ] in his final documented interview. ''Fuck'' later includes archival footage of comedians ] and ], and analysis of the word's use in popular culture, from '']'' (1970) to '']'' (1983) and '']'' (1994).<ref name="jackgarner" /> Carlin's 1972 monologue "]" is excerpted in the film.<ref name="jeffvice" /> Journalist ] comments on the versatility of "fuck": "It's one of those all-purpose words."<ref name="sandiego" /> Bill Maher comments, "It's the ultimate bad word",<ref name="dvdverdict" /> observing that thanks to Lenny Bruce, ]s have become "the freest free-speech zone" in the United States.<ref name="aoscott" />
The film contains a painting (United States Censorship) by Canadian political artist Charles Alexander Moffat.


Connolly states that "fuck" "sounds exactly like what it is",<ref name="sandiego" /> noting that the emotional impact of saying "fuck off" cannot be translated.<ref name="dvdverdict" /><ref name="sampeczek" /> He says that if a person is in ] and someone is fiddling with their luggage, yelling "fuck off" will effectively communicate that they should stop and leave.<ref name="peterbradshaw">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/12/documentary|title=Film & Music: Film reviews: Fuck: 2/5: Director: Steve Anderson: 93 mins, no cert|work=]|first=Peter |last=Bradshaw|date=February 13, 2009|page=9; Section: Guardian Film and Music Pages}}</ref> Morissette says, "The f-word is special. Everybody uses the word 'breakfast', but not everyone feels comfortable using the word 'fuck' so there's an extra power behind it."<ref name="rowanwalker">{{cite news|first=Rowan|last=Walker|work=]|title=First Person: Is this an f-word too far?: A new documentary about a certain four-letter epithet has got America talking (so long as they don't use that word). Rowan Walker asks if it deserves four stars|page=28; Section: Observer Focus Pages|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/19/film.filmnews|date=November 18, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2013 }}</ref> Boone argues for less use of the word, saying that he uses his surname instead.<ref name="davewhite">{{cite news|first=Dave|last=White|work=]|title=F*ck Review|url=http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/fck-review/dave-white/m63820|access-date=April 18, 2013|date=November 10, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Movies: Opened last week|first=Geoff |last=Pevere|date=December 7, 2006|work=]|page=G14; Section: What's On}}</ref> Radio talk show host ] says that it is acceptable for youths to hear the word on television and film, but not from their family members.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Hatch|title=Culture Dogs- Sam Hatch's F*ck Review|work=] |access-date=April 25, 2013|year=2006|url=http://www.wwuh.org/program/culturedogs/Reviews/Sam%20Reviews/fck.htm}}</ref> In the film, opponents of the word "fuck" use an argument commonly known as "]".<ref name="noelmurray" />{{efn|"Think of the children" is a rhetorical device used by those who wish to cast youth as victims in order to win a political argument.<ref>{{cite book|pages=165–167|title=Community, Space and Online Censorship: Regulating Pornotopia|first=Scott |last=Beattie|year=2009|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=978-0-7546-7308-8}}</ref>}}
==Interviewees==

*] (])
''Fuck'' observes that the original use of the word is unknown to scholars,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/30/AR2006113000107.html|title=Cursing swear word's history|work=]|location=Crystal Lake, Illinois|date=December 7, 2006|quote=Among the revelations: The first use of the word in a mainstream movie was a mumbled curse in "M*A*S*H"; the word's origin remains mysterious, but it is definitely not a corruption of a medieval designation involving unlawful carnal knowledge. }}</ref> noting that its earliest written appearance was in the 1475 poem "]".<ref name="sampeczek" /><ref name="moiramacdonald" /> It was not, as is often claimed, originally an ] for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" or "Fornication Under Consent of the King".<ref name="dvdtalk" /><ref name="bloodmoon">{{cite book|first=Darwin|last=Porter|author2=Danforth Prince|title=Blood Moon's Guide to Gay and Lesbian Film: Second Edition|publisher=Blood Moon Productions|year=2007|isbn=978-0-9748118-7-1}}</ref><ref name="micklasalle">{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-CLIPS-Also-opening-today-2466613.php|access-date=April 17, 2013|work=]|first=Mick|last=LaSalle|title=Film Clips / Also opening today|date=November 17, 2006}}</ref> The word has been used by authors including ], ] (in his 1928 '']'') and ].<ref name="rowanwalker" /><ref name="kenfox">{{cite news|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/fk/review/283661|access-date=April 18, 2013|work=]|first=Ken|last=Fox|title=F**k Review|year=2006|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021072544/http://movies.tvguide.com/fk/review/283661|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film explains that "fuck" established its current usage during the First and Second World Wars,<ref name="wesleymorris" /> and was used by General ] in a speech to his forces who were about to enter France.<ref name="glenngarvin" /><ref name="robnelson">{{cite news|first=Rob|last=Nelson|work=]|title='Fuck'|date=October 31, 2006|access-date=April 18, 2013|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-10-31/film/fuck/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630140833/http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-10-31/film/fuck/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>
*]

*]
''Fuck'' states that the first use of the word in a large-studio film was in ''M*A*S*H'' (1970),<ref name="moiramacdonald" /><ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=The day the f-word hit the screen|date=December 1, 2006 |page=D01; Section: Movies}}</ref> and it entered the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' in 1972.<ref name="sampeczek" /> That year, the word was also recorded during the ] United States mission to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.currentfilm.com/dvdreviews8/f-ckdvd.html|access-date=April 25, 2013|title=DVD Review: F-ck|work=Current Film|year=2007|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826233221/http://www.currentfilm.com/dvdreviews8/f-ckdvd.html|archive-date=August 26, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The film includes a segment from the 1987 film '']'' with actor ], in which "fuck" is repeated for comedic effect.<ref name="sampeczek" /> ''Fuck'' states that the most financially successful ] comedy film to date had the suggestive title of '']'' (2004).<ref name="sampeczek" /> The director analyzes the uses and connotations of "fuck" and the feelings it evokes on several levels.<ref name="jackgarner" /> Bruce is quoted as saying, "If you can't say 'fuck', you can't say 'fuck the government'".<ref name="sandiego" /> Steve Anderson argues that "fuck" is an integral part of societal discussions about ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Chelsea|last=Bain|work=]|title=Movie Review: Flick doesn't mince words|date=December 8, 2006|page=E17}}</ref><ref name="keough">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Keough|work=]|title=Reviews: Fuck&nbsp;– Not for children|date=December 6, 2006|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/Movies/29106-FUCK/|access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="sallyfoster">{{cite news|first=Sally|last=Foster|work=]|title=Fuck|url=http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/8770/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109092658/http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/8770/|archive-date=November 9, 2013|access-date=April 17, 2013|date=March 23, 2006}}</ref>
*]

*Chuck Conconi (former ] with the )
==Soundtrack==
*]
''Fuck'' includes songs with similarly themed titles, including "]" by American ] band ], "Fucking Fucking Fuck" by Splatpattern and "]" by American ] supergroup ]. Journalist Sam Peczek of ''Culture Wars'' compared the film's music to that in ] and observed that the soundtrack was broad in scope and helped accentuate the film's content.<ref name="sampeczek" />
*John Crossley (associate professor of religion at ] and ] board member)

*]
===Track listing===
*]
{{Track listing
*]
| headline = ''Fuck'' (2005) by Steve Anderson
*]
| extra_column =
*Timothy Jay (] award winner and profanity expert)
| total_length =
*]
| all_writing =
*]
| all_lyrics =
*Janet M. LaRue (chief legal counsel for ])
| all_music =
*]
| title1 = ]
*]
| note1 = Susan Skup, vocalist
*]
| writer1 =] ]
*]
| length1 =
*]
| title2 = Hot Dog Man
*]
| note2 = Antony W. Lee, vocalist
*Geoffrey Nunberg (] linguist and contributer to the ])
| writer2 = Carvin Knowles
*]
| length2 =
*Robert W. Peters (president of Morality in Media, Inc., ])
| title3 = Don't Fuck With My Freedom of Speech
*]
| note3 = Patrick Delaney and Steve Anderson, vocalists
*Robert Corn Revere (] ])
| writer3 = Carvin Knowles
*] of ]
| length3 =
*]
| title4 = Vendetta
*] (principal editor of the ])
| note4 = performed by Carvin Knowles, Joel Kleinberg and David Uebersax
*David Skover (] scholar and co-author of ''The Trials of ]'')
| writer4 = Carvin Knowles
*]
| length4 =
*]
| title5 = If I Had The Copyright (The F-Word Song)
*]
| note5 = performed by ]
| writer5 = ]
| length5 =
| title6 = Porn King
| note6 = performed by The Funky Filter
| writer6 = Dany Almeida
| length6 =
| title7 = Revolution Starts Now
| note7 = performed by ]
| writer7 = Steve Earle
| length7 =
| title8 = I Can't Say These Things
| note8 = performed by ]
| writer8 = Ed Grenga, Arthur Johnson, Michael McMahon and Douglas Stevens
| length8 =
| title9 = ]
| note9 = performed by ]
| writer9 = Bianca Butthole, Sharon Needles, Blare N. Bitch and Judy Molish
| length9 =
| title10 = Fucking Fucking Fuck
| note10 = performed by Splatpattern
| writer10 = Walter Fischbacher, Elizabeth Lohninger, and Pete Macnamara
| length10 =
| title11 = Chicken Rhythm
| note11 =performed by ]
| writer11 = Bulee Gaillard and Harry Squires
| length11 =
| title12 = A Chat With Your Mother
| note12 =performed by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer
| writer12 = Lou and Peter Berryman
| length12 =
| title13 = Don't Fuck Around With Love
| note13 =performed by ]
| writer13 = Claude DeMetrius and Joseph W. Burns
| length13 =
| title14 = ]
| note14 =courtesy of DeWolfe Music Library
| writer14 = ]
| length14 =
| title15 = Bad Word For A Good Thing
| note15 =performed by ]
| writer15 = Dean Roher and Ben Vaughn
| length15 =
| title16 = ]
| note16 =performed by ]
| writer16 = ], ], and ]
| length16 =
| title17 = ]
| note17 =performed by ]
| writer17 = Al Frazier, Sonny Harris, Carl White, and Turner Wilson
| length17 =
| title18 = ]
| note18 =performed by ]
| writer18 = Joey Jordison
| length18 =
| title19 = F The CC
| note19 =performed by Steve Earle
| writer19 = Steve Earle
| length19 =
| title20 = The Closing Song
| note20 =performed by ]
| writer20 = Joseph Vercillo, Ed grenga, Douglas Stevens and Arthur Johnson
| length20 =
| title21 = Love Muscle
| note21 =performed by The SEX-O-RAMA Band
| writer21 = Carvin Knowles
| length21 =
| title22 = Stiffed
| note22 =performed by The SEX-O-RAMA Band
| writer22 = Carvin Knowles
| length22 =
}}

==Production==

===Inspiration===
] decided to research the film's topic due to the word's versatility and his interest in language use as a writer.<ref name="naughtywordintrigues" />|alt=Steve Anderson]]
Anderson made his directorial debut in 2003 with the film '']'', starring actors ] and ],<ref name="naughtywordintrigues" /><ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=December 1, 2006|title=Four Letters, Two Stars|first=Jennie|last= Punter|page=R17; Section: The Globe Review 7; film}}</ref> and became fascinated by the usage of the word "fuck".<ref name="sandiego">{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222003812/http://sandiegometro.archives.whsites.net/reel/index.php?reelID=987|archive-date=February 22, 2010|url=http://sandiegometro.archives.whsites.net/reel/index.php?reelID=987|access-date=April 17, 2013|date=December 2006|title=The Reel Story: F*ck&nbsp;– History of a bad word|work=San Diego Metropolitan Magazine & Daily Business Report|first=Jean |last=Lowerison}}</ref> In an interview with the '']'', Anderson suggested he cursed a lot more than he used to after the film's production. He decided to research the film's topic due to the word's versatility and his interest in language as a writer.<ref name="naughtywordintrigues" /> Early exposure by Anderson to public perception of the word "fuck" came from '']'' by comedian George Carlin, which included his monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television".<ref name="naughtywordintrigues">{{cite news|title='Naughty word' intrigues Pittsford grad|date=January 4, 2007|first=Jack|last=Garner|work=]|location=Rochester, New York}}</ref><ref name="tucsoncitizen">{{cite news|work=]|first=Jack|last=Garner|title=Carlin's list a 'precursor' to new documentary|date=January 18, 2007}}</ref>

The director explained in an interview that he was fascinated with the word "fuck" because of its different uses. He originally proposed the idea of a film about the word in jest, later realizing that the topic could fuel a documentary.<ref name="jaystonecanwest">{{cite news|first=Jay (])|last=Stone|work=]|date=November 28, 2006|title=Defusing The F-bomb: New Doc. Director tackles The Profundity Of Profanity|page=B3}}</ref> '']'' quoted him as saying that he was entertained by the word "fuck",<ref name="rowanwalker" /> and intrigued with the idea of examining how the word had been incorporated into popular culture.<ref name="rowanwalker" /> He wanted to analyze why some people were offended by its use and others enjoyed it, noting that the word sharpened debate about taboo language in society.<ref name="rowanwalker" />

Anderson explained to the '']'' the confusing, forbidden nature of the word "fuck" in the face of the increased pervasiveness of euphemisms for it.<ref name="zoemak" /> He commented on its taboo nature and demonstrated how it can be indirectly referred to, so youth understand the reference without using the word itself.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20040427/cursing27/flush-that-potty-mouth-with-popular-euphemisms|title=Flush that potty mouth with popular euphemisms|work=]|first=Lynn (])|last=Smith|date=April 27, 2004|page=C1; Edition: Fourth; Section: Northwest Life|access-date=December 7, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212000305/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040427&slug=cursing27|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with the '']'', Anderson said that film directors should fight against censorship, because it can block their true message.<ref name="zoemak" />

The director told CanWest News Service that he hoped the documentary would provoke a wider discussion about freedom of speech, ] and its media use. Anderson questioned whether the word should be used on '']'', and how parents should discuss its use with their children. He emphasized that artists and filmmakers should be free to express their views without censorship, deferring to public opinion on the appropriateness of his documentary's title.<ref name="jaystonecanwest" />

Anderson stated in an interview with ] that freedom of speech was not guaranteed, but a concept requiring discussion and monitoring, so it is not lost. He classified the word "fuck" as being at the core of discussion about freedom of speech. He acknowledged that there are terms considered by society more vulgar than "fuck", but said that this particular word creates controversy and dialogue.<ref name="indiewire">{{cite news|date=November 9, 2006|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/indiewire_interview_steve_anderson_director_of_fuck2|access-date=April 23, 2013|title=indieWIRE Interview: Steve Anderson, director of 'Fuck'|author=IndieWire staff|work=]|quote=From the very beginning we didn't know what we were going to call it. For the entire production it was known as "The Untitled F-Word Film." I always harbored the desire to eventually call it "Fuck" but as a producer as well as a director, you have to consider getting the film into theaters. People need to be able to see the film. In the end, after much discussion and many alternate titles, we decided to simply call if "Fuck." It was the honest thing to do.}}</ref> Anderson said that its title alone distinguished his documentary from others, in terms of promotional difficulty. During production, ''Fuck'' was known as ''The Untitled F-Word Film''.<ref name="indiewire" />

==={{anchor|Title choice and marketing}}Title and marketing===
]
In an interview about the film on his website, Anderson discussed problems he encountered in naming his film ''Fuck'' instead of a censored version of the word. Anderson always wanted to call it ''Fuck'', because it succinctly described the film's contents.<ref name="fairman" />{{efn|''Fuck'' is styled as ''FUCK'', ''F★CK'', or ''F*CK''<ref name="baumgarten" /><ref name="financialtimes" /> and alternatively referred to as ''Fuck: A Documentary'' and ''The F-Bomb: A Documentary''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-F-Bomb-A-Documentary/70058003|access-date=June 8, 2013|year=2013|work=]|title=The F-Bomb: A Documentary|archive-date=March 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312232619/http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-F-Bomb-A-Documentary/70058003|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_f_bomb_a_documentary/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027150801/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_f_bomb_a_documentary/|archive-date=October 27, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013|year=2013|work=]|title=The F-bomb: A Documentary}}</ref>}} There were inherent problems with this approach, including an inability to advertise the true title in mainstream media such as '']'' and ''Los Angeles Times'' (they used four asterisks instead), although the real title might be permitted in ]s such as '']''.<ref name="fairman" /><ref name="jaystonecanwest" /> Anderson also anticipated problems displaying the film's title during film festivals on theatre ].<ref name="fairman" />

Anderson explained that although the title of his documentary was ''Fuck'', he allowed alternate designations using an asterisk. The film and content he controlled would refer to the title as ''Fuck'', including theatrical and DVD editions. He concluded that his struggle reflected the debate alluded to by the documentary, and this realization motivated him to stand firm on the film's title.<ref name="fairman" /> Because the film is about how a taboo word can impact culture, it was important to keep ''Fuck'' as its title.<ref name="couldoscar">{{cite news|work=]|title=Could Oscar be a four-letter word?|date=March 27, 2006|page=1; Section: The Globe Review}}</ref>

===Filming and distribution===
]
The film features animation by American graphic designer and cartoonist ].<ref name="sandiego" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-05-ca-sneakslist5-story.html|access-date=April 25, 2013|work=]|title=It's looking pretty cool&nbsp;– Holiday Movie Sneaks&nbsp;– Wintry escapades, icy stares and cold-blooded killers are part of a flurry of year-end films.|date=November 5, 2006}}</ref> To illustrate key concepts, ''Fuck'' uses sound bites, music, video clips and archival film footage;<ref name="bloodmoon" /> Anderson combined excerpts from five television series and twenty-two films in the documentary.<ref name="stamets" /> The interviews were cut so that different subjects appear to be talking to each other; the interviewees in question generally had opposite views on the subject.<ref name="baumgarten" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://reelfilm.com/hot0600.htm#fuck|access-date=April 18, 2013|title=The 13th Annual Hot Docs Film Festival: Fuck|first=David|last=Nusair|work=Reel Film Reviews|date=May 4, 2006}}</ref> The film was unrated by the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Movie review: 'F**k'|date=November 16, 2006|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/11524686.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222003851/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/movies/11524686.html|archive-date=February 22, 2010|access-date=April 17, 2013|first=Colin|last=Covert|work=]|location=Minneapolis }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Capsule Reviews of Arriving Films|date=November 7, 2006|first=Christy |agency=Associated Press|last=Lemire}}</ref>

] was confirmed in November 2003 to produce and finance the documentary, with production scheduled to begin in January 2004.<ref name="rainstormswears">{{cite news|title=Rainstorm swears by doc|work=]|date=November 10, 2003|page=27|first=Dana|last=Harris}}</ref> The film was completed in 2005 by Anderson's company, Mudflap Films, and produced by Rainstorm Entertainment co-founders Steven Kaplan and Gregg Daniel,<ref name="ianmohr" /> and Bruce Leiserowitz, Jory Weitz and Richard Ardi.<ref name="daringdocu" /> Financial assistance was provided by Bad Apple Films of ].<ref name="indiewire" />

] before his suicide and honored Thompson's contributions to journalism.|alt=Hunter S. Thompson]]
Thirty-five media commentators were interviewed for the film.<ref name="stamets" /><ref name="charlesbritton" /> Jory Weitz helped obtain interviews; he had cast Anderson's previous film, ''The Big Empty'', and had industry credibility as executive producer of '']''.<ref name="indiewire" /> Anderson said he intended to select interviewees with a variety of perspectives, conservative as well as liberal. He described how, as confirmations of interview subjects came in, he was surprised when Pat Boone was among the first to confirm his participation. Anderson had previously worked as a cameraman on a piece with Boone about eight years before starting work on ''Fuck''. After confirming Boone, Bill Maher and Janeane Garofalo on ''Fuck'', it became easier for Anderson to confirm other interviewees. The film included the final video interview with Hunter S. Thompson before his suicide, and Anderson dedicated it to Thompson for his contributions to journalism.<ref name="rebeccabachman" />

Distribution rights to ''Fuck'' were obtained by ] in 2006.<ref name="amysrosenberg" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061207/news_lz1w07fword.html|title=What the bleep? Film is pretty darn good|first=David|last=Elliott|work=]|date=December 7, 2006|page=9; Night & Day; Section: Entertainment|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211040507/http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061207/news_lz1w07fword.html|archive-date=December 11, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Movie chains did not use the film's title in their promotion, instead using references such as ''The Four-Letter Word Film''.<ref name="fairman" /> Mark Urman, chief of the theatrical division of THINKFilm, told '']'' that it was especially difficult (as an independent film distributor) to promote a film with a title media outlets did not wish to print.<ref name="amysrosenberg" /> Urman told '']'' that the intent of the production staff during promotion was a creative, original marketing campaign.<ref name="daringdocu">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/think-takes-daring-docu-1117940368/|first=Ian|last=Mohr|title=Think takes daring docu|date=March 27, 2006|page=2; Section: News|work=]|location=New York}}</ref> THINKFilm marketed the documentary as a comprehensive, humorous look at the dichotomy between the taboo nature and cultural universality of the word "fuck".<ref>{{cite news|title=Cannes Market Listings|date=May 15, 2006|work=]|page=64; Special Report 1: Special Supplement: VPLUS: Cannes 2006|author=<!--Not stated-->}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Release===
''Fuck'' was shown for the first time on November 7, 2005, at the ]<ref name="ianmohr">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2005/film/news/launchpad-s-taking-off-1117931228/|title=Launchpad's taking off|work=]|date=October 19, 2005|first=Ian|last=Mohr|page=3; Section: News|location=New York}}</ref><ref name="loadedword">{{cite news|url=http://www.afi.com/afifest/2005/daily/5b.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628064837/http://www.afi.com/afifest/2005/daily/5b.aspx|archive-date=June 28, 2011|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Director Steve Anderson Examines a Loaded Word|date=November 7, 2005|first=Peter|last=Martin|work=Live From the Fest: Daily News|publisher=]}}</ref> at the ArcLight Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afi.com/afifest/2005/daily/1a.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628064911/http://www.afi.com/afifest/2005/daily/1a.aspx|archive-date=June 28, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2013|title=Walk the Line Opening Night Gala Kicks Off AFI FEST 2005|work=Life from the Fest: Daily News|first=Brent|last=Simon|publisher=]|date=November 3, 2005}}</ref> On March 10, 2006, interest increased after the opening night of the 20th ] in ].<ref name="upiexplores" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Buzz movies roll, then Austin rocks|first=Michael|last=Norman|date=March 14, 2006|work=]|location=Cleveland, Ohio|page=E4}}</ref> At the 30th ], it sold out two screenings (which were standing-room only events).<ref>{{cite news|title=Along Came a Spider&nbsp;... and other high notes from the Cleveland Film Festival|work=]|first=Barry|last=Paris|page=E-1}}</ref>

''Fuck'' was featured on March 31 and April 2, 2006, at the ].<ref name="orlandoweekly" /> It was screened in April 2006 during the ] at ] in ].<ref name="amysrosenberg">{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-04-11/news/25395195_1_word-asterisk-wolf-parade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213065838/http://articles.philly.com/2006-04-11/news/25395195_1_word-asterisk-wolf-parade|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2013|title=Obscene word now often seen and heard|date=April 11, 2006|first=Amy S. |last=Rosenberg|work=]|page=F01; Section: Features Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thewhitonline.com/Fbombblowsawayfilmfestival/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103042024/http://www.thewhitonline.com/Fbombblowsawayfilmfestival/|archive-date=November 3, 2014|access-date=April 25, 2013|work=The Whit|title=F-bomb blows away film festival|date=April 13, 2006|publisher=]; www.thewhitonline.com|first=Jonathan|last=Guito|location=Glassboro, New Jersey}}</ref> It had its Washington, D.C. premiere in June 2006,<ref name="vincelli" /> and was shown on June 15 at the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Official Guide&nbsp;– To the Nantucket Film Festival&nbsp;– 11th Annual|date=June 14, 2006|first=Marli |last=Guzzetta|work=]|page=25}}</ref>

''Fuck'' opened in Los Angeles on August 23, 2006, and in New York on November 10.<ref name="aficatalog">{{cite news|access-date=April 17, 2013|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=63831|title=Movie Detail: Fuck|work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films|publisher=]|year=2013}}</ref> It made its Canadian debut at the 2006 ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/railroad-to-kick-off-hot-docs-fest-1117940513/|first=Tamsen|last=Tillson|title='Railroad' to kick off Hot Docs fest|date=March 29, 2006|work=]|page=11; Section: News}}</ref> and began regular showings at the ] on December 1.<ref name="jaystonecanwest" /><ref>{{cite news|first=Geoff |last=Pevere|work=]|title=It's one great Boone-ing movie|page=D04; Section: Movies|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> The documentary began screening at the Century Centre Cinema in Chicago on November 17, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen mother of curses gets its due, sort of|work=Daily Herald|location=Arlington Heights, Illinois|date=November 17, 2006|first=Dann |last=Gire|page=49}}</ref> ''Fuck'' had two screenings in April 2007 during the ] in ].<ref name="zoemak" /> According to a 2011 interview with Anderson in the '']'', the documentary was shown in about 100 film festivals worldwide and was screened in about 65 cities during its theatrical release.<ref name="rebeccabachman" />

===Critical response===
]'', ] of the ] at ] called the documentary "the most important film using 'fuck'".<ref name="fairman">{{cite book|first=Christopher M.|last=Fairman|author-link=Christopher M. Fairman|title=] |pages=19–20|publisher=Sphinx Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-1-57248-711-6}}</ref>|alt=Christopher Fairman]]
''Fuck'' received mixed reviews. The ] website ] reported a 56% approval rating with an average rating of 5.8/10 based on 72 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "A documentary that sets out to explore a lingual taboo but can't escape its own naughty posturing."<ref name="rottenaggregate">{{cite news|title=Fuck (F*ck) (2005)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/f_2005|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=8 February 2014 }}</ref> At ], which assigns a weighted-mean rating from 0–100 based on reviews by film critics, the film has a rating score of 58 based on 23 reviews (a mixed, or average, film).<ref name="metacritic">{{cite news |title=Fuck Reviews&nbsp;– Metacritic |work=]|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/fuck|access-date=April 17, 2013|year=2013}}</ref> The American Film Institute wrote, "Ultimately, ''Fuck'' is a movie about free speech&nbsp;... Freedom of expression must extend to words that offend. Love it or hate it, fuck is here to stay".<ref name="vincelli">{{cite news|first=Rose|last=Vincelli|url=http://www.afi.com/silverdocs/2006/films/fuck.aspx|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Fuck|work=Silverdocs 2006 Film Guide|publisher=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619174612/http://www.afi.com/silverdocs/2006/films/FUCK.aspx|archive-date=June 19, 2007}}</ref>

Jack Garner of the ''Democrat and Chronicle'' gave the film a rating of 8 out of 10, concluding that he was pleasantly surprised at the documentary's entertainment value.<ref name="jackgarner" /> He described it as educational, despite ''Fuck''{{'}}s repetitive use of the word.<ref name="jackgarner">{{cite news|first=Jack|last=Garner|title='F---: The Documentary'|work=]|date=January 5, 2007|access-date=April 17, 2013|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070105/LIVING0107/701050363/1065/ENT04|archive-date=September 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903150017/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070105/LIVING0107/701050363/1065/ENT04|url-status=dead}}</ref> In '']'' Wesley Morris commented that the director's flippant style was beneficial, enabling him to make serious educational points to the audience.<ref name="wesleymorris">{{cite news|first=Wesley|last=Morris|work=]|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2006/12/08/presenting_the_history_of_a_four_letter_word/|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Movie Review: Presenting the history of a four-letter word|date=December 8, 2006}}</ref> Sally Foster of '']'' said that the crux of the film was the debate about freedom of speech, and that the film was funny and thought-provoking.<ref name="sallyfoster" /> ] wrote in ''The New York Times'': "Mr. Anderson's movie is staged as a talking-head culture-war skirmish between embattled upholders of propriety (or repression, if you prefer) and proponents of free expression (or filth), but its real lesson is that the two sides depend upon each other. Or rather, that the continued vitality of the word—its unique ability to convey emphasis, relieve stress, shock grown-ups and function as adverb, noun, verb, intensifier and what linguists call 'infix'—rests on its ability to mark an edge between the permissible and the profane".<ref name="aoscott" /> In the '']'', Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote that the documentary was an amusing film and an educational commentary on the word.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan|last=Rosenbaum|work=]|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/fuck/Film?oid=1069019|access-date=April 22, 2013|title=Fuck|date=November 17, 2006}}</ref> According to Glenn Garvin of '']'', the film was an expansive merging of perspectives from politics, history and culture.<ref name="glenngarvin" />

In a review for '']'' Marjorie Baumgarten gave the film a rating of 4.5 out of five stars, concluding that it helped unravel myths surrounding the word and describing it as captivating and educational.<ref name="baumgarten">{{cite news|first=Marjorie|last=Baumgarten|work=]|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2006-12-01/423455/|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=F*ck|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> Steve Schneider reviewed the film for the '']'', comparing it to an academic thesis despite its repeated use of ].<ref name="orlandoweekly">{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Schneider|work=]|title=Closing Frames: What to watch for in the final weekend of the Florida Film Festival|date=March 30, 2006|access-date=April 17, 2013|url=http://www2.orlandoweekly.com/film/story.asp?id=10590}}</ref> Noel Murray of '']'' gave the film a grade of B-minus,<ref name="noelmurray" /> stating that ''Fuck'' succeeded where ]'s '']'' did not, by providing viewpoints from multiple perspectives.<ref name="noelmurray">{{cite news|first=Noel|last=Murray|work=]|url=https://www.avclub.com/fuck-1798202182|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Fuck&nbsp;– Film&nbsp;– Movie Review|date=November 9, 2006|quote=On the other side: ... Pat Boone, Alan Keyes, and Dennis Prager, who find myriad ways of saying 'Think of the children.'}}</ref> Karl French wrote in a review for the '']'' that the documentary was unique and reasonably entertaining.<ref name="financialtimes" /> Moira MacDonald asked, in a review for '']'', if viewers could embrace the ] and still be leery of the word's omnipresence in society.<ref name="moiramacdonald">{{cite news|first=Moira|last=MacDonald|work=]|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20061201/thatmovie01/f-film-about-f-bombs-power-fails-to-fully-detonate|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Movie Review: F***": Film about F-bomb's power fails to fully detonate|date=December 1, 2006|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213012529/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?slug=thatmovie01&date=20061201|url-status=live}}</ref> ] wrote in the '']'' that the commentators seemed monotonous and formulaic in debating freedom of speech, and criticized the film's repetition of the word "fuck".<ref name="micklasalle" />

Peter Keough reviewed the film for the '']''; giving it a rating of two out of four stars, he also said that the repeated use of "fuck" grew tiresome.<ref name="keough" /> In a critical review for ''The Observer'' Philip French wrote that the film had low comedic value, calling it arrogant, puerile and tedious.<ref>{{cite news|first=Philip|last=French|work=]|title=Film Review: Fuck|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/14/documentary|access-date=April 17, 2013|date=February 14, 2009}}</ref> Peter Bradshaw of '']'' gave the film two out of five stars, criticizing its lack of originality.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw|work=]|date=February 12, 2009|title=Film Review: Fuck|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/feb/12/documentary|access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> In a review for '']'' magazine, David Parkinson also gave the film a rating of two out of five stars and was frustrated that arguments by the director seemed guarded;<ref name="davidparkinson">{{cite news|first=David|last=Parkinson|work=]|title=Empire's Fuck Movie Review|url=http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=136047|access-date=April 17, 2013|year=2009}}</ref> he said that the film's scope was not comedic, amusing or provoking enough.<ref name="davidparkinson" /> In '']'' David Jenkins gave the film one star out of six, writing that it lacked depth on the issues of linguistics, media, and censorship.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Jenkins|work=]|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/film/fuck|access-date=April 17, 2013|title=Fuck review|date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> A critical review by Noah Sanders of '']'' concluded that the film was watchable and amusing, but poorly edited and organized.<ref>{{cite news|first=Noah|last=Sanders|work=]|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=113500|title=Film: On Screen&nbsp;– '10 Items or Less,' 'The Beales of Grey Gardens,' and 'Fuck'|date=November 30, 2006|access-date=April 25, 2013|location=Seattle}}</ref> The '']'' criticized the film's length,<ref>{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Hewitt|work=]|title=If you're going to play around with the f-bomb, make sure it explodes|date=November 17, 2006|page=E2}}</ref> which was echoed by '']'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Cursing the word|newspaper=]|date=December 1, 2006|page=T37; Section: Weekend|first=Stephen |last=Hunter}}</ref> the '']'',<ref name="jeffvice">{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Vice|work=]|date=December 15, 2006|title='(F-Word)' film gets tiresome|page=W08|location=Salt Lake City}}</ref> '']''<ref>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Horton|title=F-bomb documentary too freakin' unfocused|work=]|location=Everett, Washington|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> and the '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/short-takes-article-1.617421|title=Short Takes: Say What?|work=]|date=November 10, 2006|first=Jack|last=Matthews|page=54}}</ref> In a review for the '']'' Bill White gave the film a grade C, calling it a dull compilation of childish observations and a failed attempt to spark a discussion about freedom of speech.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|first=Bill|last=White|title=Limited movie runs: 'F—k'|date=November 30, 2006|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/Limited-movie-runs-F-k-1221169.php|access-date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> Mike Pinsky of '']'' concluded that the film's main arguments were achieved by the beginning of the documentary, and criticized its lack of subsequent structure and light tone overall.<ref name="dvdverdict" />

===Home media===
THINKFilm reached an agreement to screen the documentary on the American ] cable channel ] in 2007,<ref name="amysrosenberg" /><ref name="upiexplores">{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2006/03/24/Documentary-explores-the-f-word/UPI-36571143258567/|title=Documentary explores the 'f-word'|author=UPI NewsTrack|work=]|date=March 24, 2006}}</ref> and it aired on the ] on May 28, 2011.<ref name="glenngarvin">{{cite news|title=How to hear the F-word 857 times on TV&nbsp;– F**k. 2–4 a.m. Saturday. Documentary Channel.|date=May 27, 2011|work=]|first=Glenn|last=Garvin|quote=Anybody expecting protective bleeps will suffer lethally seared eardrums within minutes of tuning in; the program shatters all existing records of F-word usage with 857 gloriously stereophonic examples.}}</ref><ref name="rebeccabachman">{{cite news|first=Rebecca|last=Bachman|work=]|title=Film: Documentary Digs Into the F-Bomb&nbsp;– Interview with the Writer and Director of the Film That Dare Not Speak Its Own Name|url=http://www.independent.com/news/2011/may/27/documentary-digs-f-bomb/|access-date=April 25, 2013|date=May 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021012612/http://www.independent.com/news/2011/may/27/documentary-digs-f-bomb/|archive-date=October 21, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ] for ''Fuck'' was released by THINKFilm on February 13, 2007,<ref name="joblo">{{cite news|url=http://www.joblo.com/blu-rays-dvds/reviews/fck|access-date=April 19, 2013|date=March 13, 2007|first=Dave|last=Davis|title=F*ck DVD Review|work=]|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706003512/http://www.joblo.com/blu-rays-dvds/reviews/fck|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="igndvd">{{cite news|title=F**k DVD Debuts&nbsp;– The f-bomb film arrives on disc in Feb.|work=]|first=David |last=McCutcheon|date=January 25, 2007|access-date=April 25, 2013|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/25/fk-dvd-debuts }}</ref> and a United Kingdom DVD edition was released in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/may/24/the-wrestler-the-reader|title=Review: The Critics: Releases: Mark Kemode's DVD round-up|work=]|date=May 24, 2009|first=Mark|last=Kermode|page=18; Section: Observer Review Arts Pages}}</ref> For the DVDs, THINKFilm remastered the video for ''Fuck''; it was optimized for home viewing with 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer to a 16:9 anamorphic full-frame presentation and Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 audio.<ref name="dvdtalk" /><ref name="movieweb" />

Trailers for '']'', '']'' and '']'' appear on the DVD before the documentary.<ref name="dvdverdict">{{cite news|work=]|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/fuck.php|access-date=April 19, 2013|date=March 12, 2007|first=Mike|last=Pinsky|title=DVD Verdict Review&nbsp;– Fuck|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194517/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/fuck.php|archive-date=September 27, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Special features include a ] by Steve Anderson, interviews with Anderson and Bill Plympton, the film's ], a gallery for the introductory trailers, deleted scenes and interviews with Hunter S. Thompson and Tera Patrick.<ref name="dvdtalk">{{cite news|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/26788/fuck/|access-date=April 19, 2013|work=]|title=Fuck: DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video|first=Bill|last=Gibron|date=February 13, 2007}}</ref><ref name="joblo" /><ref name="movieweb">{{cite news|work=]|url=http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/DVwqCyxFxAC6Ax/REeKMhfgDqH5hk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024005332/http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/DVwqCyxFxAC6Ax/REeKMhfgDqH5hk|archive-date=October 24, 2013|access-date=April 19, 2013|title=F**k DVD|author=Mushy|date=February 16, 2007}}</ref> The disc includes an optional on-screen counter, giving viewers a running total of utterances (and appearances) of the word "fuck" during play.{{efn|The on-screen counter tracks uses of "fuck" throughout the film in aggregate over time, starting from the beginning of the film.<ref name="dvdverdict" /><ref name="joblo" /><ref name="movieweb" />}}

===Impact===
''Fuck'' has been a resource for several university courses.{{efn|The film was recommended as a resource to students by Dr. Richard Stepp in his Fall 2007 course "Ethnographic and Documentary Film" at the ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Richard|last=Stepp|title=Ethnographic and Documentary Film|date=Fall 2007|publisher=University of Florida|work=ANT 4930|page=4}}</ref>}}{{efn|See additional research by Miriam Sobre-Denton of ] and Jana Simonis published in the ] ''Communication Teacher''.<ref name="sobredenton" />}} Christopher M. Fairman discussed the documentary in his article, "Fuck", published in February 2007 in the '']''.<ref name="fairman2007">{{cite journal|journal=]|title=Fuck|first=Christopher M.|last=Fairman|author-link=Christopher M. Fairman|date=February 2007|url=http://works.bepress.com/christopher_fairman/12|access-date=April 23, 2013|pages=1711–1772|volume=28|issue=4|issn=0270-5192|oclc=54471078|archive-date=April 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407180127/https://works.bepress.com/christopher_fairman/12/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fairman cited Anderson's decision to call his film ''Fuck'' and the marketing problems this entailed,<ref name="fairman2007" /> saying that he and Anderson both found the title of their works helped spur debate on ]s in society.<ref name="fairman2007" />

In an interview with the ''Santa Barbara Independent'', Anderson said that a schoolteacher in Philadelphia had been fired for showing the documentary to his students.<ref name="rebeccabachman" /> The teacher had researched the documentary, and wanted to teach his students the history of the word because of its frequent use in his class.<ref name="rebeccabachman" /> Anderson said it was not the use of the word "fuck" in the film that cost the teacher his job, but a 38-second scene from a '']'' concert in Europe where a couple engaged in sexual intercourse onstage as environmental advocacy.<ref name="rebeccabachman" /> The teacher showed the DVD to his 11th-grade journalism class at ] without previewing it or sending permission slips home to parents.<ref name="90minutelapse">{{cite news|first=Jill|last=Porter|title=The 90-minute lapse that killed a 19-year career: Showing a DVD about the F-Word in class was a mistake&nbsp;... But why a fatal one?|date=October 19, 2007|work=]}}</ref> He told the '']'' that before showing the documentary, he was unaware that it contained the clip showing sexual intercourse.<ref name="90minutelapse" /> He was dismissed from his position by the school principal, and his termination was upheld by the regional superintendent.<ref name="90minutelapse" /> The teacher did not appeal the decision, instead retiring.<ref name="90minutelapse" /> An analysis of the incident by the ''Philadelphia Daily News'' concluded that the school district's decision to fire the teacher was appropriate, but also agreed with the teacher's position that showing a 90-minute DVD should not have obliterated his 19 years as an educator.<ref name="90minutelapse" />

''Fuck'' was featured in a 2012 analysis in the academic journal '']'', "Do You Talk to Your Teacher with That Mouth? ''F*ck: A Documentary'' and Profanity as a Teaching Tool in the Communication Classroom", by Miriam Sobre-Denton of ] and Jana Simonis. Sobre-Denton and Simonis discussed the documentary's use for ] students studying university-level ]. Their research incorporated interviews with Steve Anderson, students and data from ] classes in language and culture. Sobre-Denton and Simonis' conclusions correlated ]s with social forms of power, ], ]ism and ]s.<ref name="sobredenton">{{cite journal|journal=Communication Teacher|title=Do You Talk to Your Teacher with That Mouth? ''F*ck: A Documentary'' and Profanity as a Teaching Tool in the Communication Classroom|doi=10.1080/17404622.2012.659196|pages=178–193|first=Miriam (])|last=Sobre-Denton|author2=Jana Simonis |date=July 2012|volume=26|issue=3|publisher=Routledge: Taylor & Francis; ]|s2cid=144292416|issn=1740-4622}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Freedom of speech|Journalism|Language|Law|Society|United States}}
* ]
* '']''
* ]
* ]
* ]

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}
*{{imdb title|id=0486585|title=Fuck}}
*


==Further reading==
]
* {{cite book|last1=Allan|first1=Keith|last2=Burridge|first2=Kate|author-link=Keith Allan (linguist)|author-link2=Kate Burridge|title=Forbidden Words: Taboo and the Censoring of Language|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2006|isbn=0-521-52564-0}}
]
* {{cite book|last1=Atkins|first1=Robert|last2=Mintcheva|first2=Svetlana|title=Censoring Culture: Contemporary Threats to Free Expression|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781595580504|url-access=registration|publisher=The New Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1-59558-050-4}}
]
* {{cite book|last=Heins|first=Marjorie|author-link=Marjorie Heins|title=]|publisher=Rutgers University Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0-8135-4221-8}}
]
* {{cite book|title=]|first=Jesse|last=Sheidlower|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|year=2009|isbn=978-0-19-539311-8|author-link=Jesse Sheidlower}}
]
]
]
]


==External links==
{{documentary-stub}}
{{commons|Fuck (film)}}
{{wikiquote|Fuck (film)}}
{{Spoken Misplaced Pages|EN-Fuck (film)-article.flac|date=2014-02-18}}
* {{cite web|title=FUCK: Four Letter Film|url=http://www.fourletterfilm.com/|work=fourletterfilm.com|access-date=April 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106210412/http://www.fourletterfilm.com/|archive-date=January 6, 2012}}
* {{cite web|title=About The Filmmakers|url=http://www.fourletterfilm.com/film.html|work=fourletterfilm.com|access-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102060812/http://www.fourletterfilm.com/film.html|archive-date=January 2, 2007}}
* {{AFI film|63831|Fuck}}
* {{IMDb title|0486585|Fuck}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=fuck|title=Fuck}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Fuck}}
* {{oclc| 85793984}}; {{oclc|232578834}}, {{oclc|755910041}}
* '''' at ]

{{featured article}}

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Latest revision as of 20:59, 13 November 2024

2005 American documentary film directed by Steve Anderson Not to be confused with The F Word (2005 film).

Fuck
Fuck film poster with asterisk instead of letter UTheatrical release poster
Directed bySteve Anderson
Produced bySteve Anderson
StarringSteven Bochco
Pat Boone
Ben Bradlee
Drew Carey
Billy Connolly
Sam Donaldson
Janeane Garofalo
Ice-T
Ron Jeremy
Bill Maher
Judith Martin
David Milch
Alanis Morissette
Kevin Smith
Tera Patrick
Hunter S. Thompson
CinematographyAndre Fontanelle
Edited byJayne Rodericks
Music byCarvin Knowles
Production
companies
Mudflap Films
Rainstorm Entertainment
Distributed byTHINKFilm
Release dates
  • November 7, 2005 (2005-11-07) (AFI)
  • November 10, 2006 (2006-11-10) (United States)
Running time93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageAmerican English

Fuck (stylized as F★CK) is a 2005 American documentary film by director Steve Anderson about the word "fuck". The film argues that the word is an integral part of societal discussions about freedom of speech and censorship. It examines the term from perspectives which include art, linguistics, society and comedy, and begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film Perversion for Profit. Scholars and celebrities analyze perceptions of the word from differing perspectives. Journalist Sam Donaldson talks about the versatility of the word, and comedian Billy Connolly states it can be understood despite one's language or location. Musician Alanis Morissette comments that the word contains power because of its taboo nature. The film features the last recorded interview of author Hunter S. Thompson before his suicide. Scholars, including linguist Reinhold Aman, journalism analyst David Shaw and Oxford English Dictionary editor Jesse Sheidlower, explain the history and evolution of the word. Language professor Geoffrey Nunberg observes that the word's treatment by society reflects changes in our culture during the 20th century.

Anderson was exposed to public conceptions surrounding the word "fuck" by comedian George Carlin's monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television". He named the film Fuck despite anticipating problems with marketing. Animator Bill Plympton provided sequences illustrating key concepts in the film. The documentary was first shown at the AFI Film Festival on November 7, 2005, at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood.

Fuck's reviews were generally mixed. Film critic A. O. Scott called the documentary a battle between advocates of morality and supporters of freedom of expression. The Washington Post and the New York Daily News criticized its length and other reviewers disliked its repetitiveness – the word "fuck" is used 857 times in the film. In his 2009 book Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties, law professor Christopher M. Fairman called the movie "the most important film using 'fuck'".

Content summary

A still shot from the 1965 film Perversion for Profit showing a man in a suit holding a placard. The placard features a cartoonish image of a leering man and the phrase "It's a two billion dollar business"
The documentary begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film Perversion for Profit.

Fuck begins with a segment from the 1965 propaganda film Perversion for Profit, followed by a clip from SpongeBob SquarePants (specifically, from the episode "Sailor Mouth") which states that the word can be used as a "sentence enhancer". The documentary includes commentary from film and television writers Kevin Smith and Steven Bochco; comedians Janeane Garofalo, Bill Maher, Drew Carey and Billy Connolly; musicians Chuck D, Alanis Morissette and Ice-T; political commentators Alan Keyes and Pat Boone; and journalists and Judith Martin. The word "fuck" is used 857 times during the film.

Billy Connolly laughing
Billy Connolly reflects in the film on the versatility of the word and its ability to communicate across languages.

Scholarly analysis is provided by Maledicta publisher Reinhold Aman, journalism analyst David Shaw and Oxford English Dictionary editor Jesse Sheidlower. Language professor Geoffrey Nunberg says, "You could think of that as standing in for most of the changes that happened in the 20th century, at least many of the important ones".

The film next features author Hunter S. Thompson in his final documented interview. Fuck later includes archival footage of comedians Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, and analysis of the word's use in popular culture, from MASH (1970) to Scarface (1983) and Clerks (1994). Carlin's 1972 monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" is excerpted in the film. Journalist Sam Donaldson comments on the versatility of "fuck": "It's one of those all-purpose words." Bill Maher comments, "It's the ultimate bad word", observing that thanks to Lenny Bruce, comedy clubs have become "the freest free-speech zone" in the United States.

Connolly states that "fuck" "sounds exactly like what it is", noting that the emotional impact of saying "fuck off" cannot be translated. He says that if a person is in Lhasa Gonggar Airport and someone is fiddling with their luggage, yelling "fuck off" will effectively communicate that they should stop and leave. Morissette says, "The f-word is special. Everybody uses the word 'breakfast', but not everyone feels comfortable using the word 'fuck' so there's an extra power behind it." Boone argues for less use of the word, saying that he uses his surname instead. Radio talk show host Dennis Prager says that it is acceptable for youths to hear the word on television and film, but not from their family members. In the film, opponents of the word "fuck" use an argument commonly known as "Think of the children".

Fuck observes that the original use of the word is unknown to scholars, noting that its earliest written appearance was in the 1475 poem "Flen flyys". It was not, as is often claimed, originally an acronym for "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" or "Fornication Under Consent of the King". The word has been used by authors including Robert Burns, D. H. Lawrence (in his 1928 Lady Chatterley's Lover) and James Joyce. The film explains that "fuck" established its current usage during the First and Second World Wars, and was used by General George S. Patton in a speech to his forces who were about to enter France.

Fuck states that the first use of the word in a large-studio film was in M*A*S*H (1970), and it entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 1972. That year, the word was also recorded during the Apollo 16 United States mission to land on the Moon. The film includes a segment from the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles with actor Steve Martin, in which "fuck" is repeated for comedic effect. Fuck states that the most financially successful live action comedy film to date had the suggestive title of Meet the Fockers (2004). The director analyzes the uses and connotations of "fuck" and the feelings it evokes on several levels. Bruce is quoted as saying, "If you can't say 'fuck', you can't say 'fuck the government'". Steve Anderson argues that "fuck" is an integral part of societal discussions about freedom of speech and censorship.

Soundtrack

Fuck includes songs with similarly themed titles, including "Shut Up and Fuck" by American hard rock band Betty Blowtorch, "Fucking Fucking Fuck" by Splatpattern and "I Love to Say Fuck" by American horror punk supergroup Murderdolls. Journalist Sam Peczek of Culture Wars compared the film's music to that in softcore pornography and observed that the soundtrack was broad in scope and helped accentuate the film's content.

Track listing

Fuck (2005) by Steve Anderson
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."All Things Bright and Beautiful" (Susan Skup, vocalist)Anglican hymn 
2."Hot Dog Man" (Antony W. Lee, vocalist)Carvin Knowles 
3."Don't Fuck With My Freedom of Speech" (Patrick Delaney and Steve Anderson, vocalists)Carvin Knowles 
4."Vendetta" (performed by Carvin Knowles, Joel Kleinberg and David Uebersax)Carvin Knowles 
5."If I Had The Copyright (The F-Word Song)" (performed by Carla Ulbrich)Carla Ulbrich 
6."Porn King" (performed by The Funky Filter)Dany Almeida 
7."Revolution Starts Now" (performed by Steve Earle)Steve Earle 
8."I Can't Say These Things" (performed by Red Peters)Ed Grenga, Arthur Johnson, Michael McMahon and Douglas Stevens 
9."Shut Up and Fuck" (performed by Betty Blowtorch)Bianca Butthole, Sharon Needles, Blare N. Bitch and Judy Molish 
10."Fucking Fucking Fuck" (performed by Splatpattern)Walter Fischbacher, Elizabeth Lohninger, and Pete Macnamara 
11."Chicken Rhythm" (performed by Slim Gaillard)Bulee Gaillard and Harry Squires 
12."A Chat With Your Mother" (performed by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer)Lou and Peter Berryman 
13."Don't Fuck Around With Love" (performed by The Blenders)Claude DeMetrius and Joseph W. Burns 
14."Hallelujah Chorus" (courtesy of DeWolfe Music Library)George Frideric Handel 
15."Bad Word For A Good Thing" (performed by The Friggs)Dean Roher and Ben Vaughn 
16."Fuck tha Police" (performed by NWA)O'Shea Jackson, Andre Young, and Lorenzo Patterson 
17."Surfin' Bird" (performed by The Trashmen)Al Frazier, Sonny Harris, Carl White, and Turner Wilson 
18."I Love To Say Fuck" (performed by Murderdolls)Joey Jordison 
19."F The CC" (performed by Steve Earle)Steve Earle 
20."The Closing Song" (performed by Red Peters)Joseph Vercillo, Ed grenga, Douglas Stevens and Arthur Johnson 
21."Love Muscle" (performed by The SEX-O-RAMA Band)Carvin Knowles 
22."Stiffed" (performed by The SEX-O-RAMA Band)Carvin Knowles 

Production

Inspiration

Steve Anderson
Steve Anderson decided to research the film's topic due to the word's versatility and his interest in language use as a writer.

Anderson made his directorial debut in 2003 with the film The Big Empty, starring actors Daryl Hannah and Jon Favreau, and became fascinated by the usage of the word "fuck". In an interview with the Democrat and Chronicle, Anderson suggested he cursed a lot more than he used to after the film's production. He decided to research the film's topic due to the word's versatility and his interest in language as a writer. Early exposure by Anderson to public perception of the word "fuck" came from Class Clown by comedian George Carlin, which included his monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television".

The director explained in an interview that he was fascinated with the word "fuck" because of its different uses. He originally proposed the idea of a film about the word in jest, later realizing that the topic could fuel a documentary. The Observer quoted him as saying that he was entertained by the word "fuck", and intrigued with the idea of examining how the word had been incorporated into popular culture. He wanted to analyze why some people were offended by its use and others enjoyed it, noting that the word sharpened debate about taboo language in society.

Anderson explained to the Los Angeles Times the confusing, forbidden nature of the word "fuck" in the face of the increased pervasiveness of euphemisms for it. He commented on its taboo nature and demonstrated how it can be indirectly referred to, so youth understand the reference without using the word itself. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Anderson said that film directors should fight against censorship, because it can block their true message.

The director told CanWest News Service that he hoped the documentary would provoke a wider discussion about freedom of speech, sexual slang and its media use. Anderson questioned whether the word should be used on NYPD Blue, and how parents should discuss its use with their children. He emphasized that artists and filmmakers should be free to express their views without censorship, deferring to public opinion on the appropriateness of his documentary's title.

Anderson stated in an interview with IndieWire that freedom of speech was not guaranteed, but a concept requiring discussion and monitoring, so it is not lost. He classified the word "fuck" as being at the core of discussion about freedom of speech. He acknowledged that there are terms considered by society more vulgar than "fuck", but said that this particular word creates controversy and dialogue. Anderson said that its title alone distinguished his documentary from others, in terms of promotional difficulty. During production, Fuck was known as The Untitled F-Word Film.

Title and marketing

Fuck with asterisk instead of letter U, with background of tiled images of interviewees from film
Steve Anderson said that the title of his film was Fuck, but he allowed marketing designs with an asterisk.

In an interview about the film on his website, Anderson discussed problems he encountered in naming his film Fuck instead of a censored version of the word. Anderson always wanted to call it Fuck, because it succinctly described the film's contents. There were inherent problems with this approach, including an inability to advertise the true title in mainstream media such as The New York Times and Los Angeles Times (they used four asterisks instead), although the real title might be permitted in alternative newspapers such as LA Weekly. Anderson also anticipated problems displaying the film's title during film festivals on theatre marquees.

Anderson explained that although the title of his documentary was Fuck, he allowed alternate designations using an asterisk. The film and content he controlled would refer to the title as Fuck, including theatrical and DVD editions. He concluded that his struggle reflected the debate alluded to by the documentary, and this realization motivated him to stand firm on the film's title. Because the film is about how a taboo word can impact culture, it was important to keep Fuck as its title.

Filming and distribution

Animated character in suit and hat pointing at sign reading Fuck with spectators observing seated in stands
The film uses animation by Bill Plympton to illustrate key concepts.

The film features animation by American graphic designer and cartoonist Bill Plympton. To illustrate key concepts, Fuck uses sound bites, music, video clips and archival film footage; Anderson combined excerpts from five television series and twenty-two films in the documentary. The interviews were cut so that different subjects appear to be talking to each other; the interviewees in question generally had opposite views on the subject. The film was unrated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

Rainstorm Entertainment was confirmed in November 2003 to produce and finance the documentary, with production scheduled to begin in January 2004. The film was completed in 2005 by Anderson's company, Mudflap Films, and produced by Rainstorm Entertainment co-founders Steven Kaplan and Gregg Daniel, and Bruce Leiserowitz, Jory Weitz and Richard Ardi. Financial assistance was provided by Bad Apple Films of Spokane, Washington.

Hunter S. Thompson
The documentary featured the last interview with author Hunter S. Thompson before his suicide and honored Thompson's contributions to journalism.

Thirty-five media commentators were interviewed for the film. Jory Weitz helped obtain interviews; he had cast Anderson's previous film, The Big Empty, and had industry credibility as executive producer of Napoleon Dynamite. Anderson said he intended to select interviewees with a variety of perspectives, conservative as well as liberal. He described how, as confirmations of interview subjects came in, he was surprised when Pat Boone was among the first to confirm his participation. Anderson had previously worked as a cameraman on a piece with Boone about eight years before starting work on Fuck. After confirming Boone, Bill Maher and Janeane Garofalo on Fuck, it became easier for Anderson to confirm other interviewees. The film included the final video interview with Hunter S. Thompson before his suicide, and Anderson dedicated it to Thompson for his contributions to journalism.

Distribution rights to Fuck were obtained by THINKFilm in 2006. Movie chains did not use the film's title in their promotion, instead using references such as The Four-Letter Word Film. Mark Urman, chief of the theatrical division of THINKFilm, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that it was especially difficult (as an independent film distributor) to promote a film with a title media outlets did not wish to print. Urman told Variety that the intent of the production staff during promotion was a creative, original marketing campaign. THINKFilm marketed the documentary as a comprehensive, humorous look at the dichotomy between the taboo nature and cultural universality of the word "fuck".

Reception

Release

Fuck was shown for the first time on November 7, 2005, at the American Film Institute Film Festival at the ArcLight Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. On March 10, 2006, interest increased after the opening night of the 20th South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. At the 30th Cleveland International Film Festival, it sold out two screenings (which were standing-room only events).

Fuck was featured on March 31 and April 2, 2006, at the Florida Film Festival. It was screened in April 2006 during the Philadelphia Film Festival at Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. It had its Washington, D.C. premiere in June 2006, and was shown on June 15 at the Nantucket Film Festival.

Fuck opened in Los Angeles on August 23, 2006, and in New York on November 10. It made its Canadian debut at the 2006 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, and began regular showings at the Bloor Cinema on December 1. The documentary began screening at the Century Centre Cinema in Chicago on November 17, 2006. Fuck had two screenings in April 2007 during the Hong Kong International Film Festival in Tsim Sha Tsui. According to a 2011 interview with Anderson in the Santa Barbara Independent, the documentary was shown in about 100 film festivals worldwide and was screened in about 65 cities during its theatrical release.

Critical response

Christopher Fairman
In his book Fuck: Word Taboo and Protecting Our First Amendment Liberties, Christopher M. Fairman of the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University called the documentary "the most important film using 'fuck'".

Fuck received mixed reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 56% approval rating with an average rating of 5.8/10 based on 72 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "A documentary that sets out to explore a lingual taboo but can't escape its own naughty posturing." At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted-mean rating from 0–100 based on reviews by film critics, the film has a rating score of 58 based on 23 reviews (a mixed, or average, film). The American Film Institute wrote, "Ultimately, Fuck is a movie about free speech ... Freedom of expression must extend to words that offend. Love it or hate it, fuck is here to stay".

Jack Garner of the Democrat and Chronicle gave the film a rating of 8 out of 10, concluding that he was pleasantly surprised at the documentary's entertainment value. He described it as educational, despite Fuck's repetitive use of the word. In The Boston Globe Wesley Morris commented that the director's flippant style was beneficial, enabling him to make serious educational points to the audience. Sally Foster of Film Threat said that the crux of the film was the debate about freedom of speech, and that the film was funny and thought-provoking. A. O. Scott wrote in The New York Times: "Mr. Anderson's movie is staged as a talking-head culture-war skirmish between embattled upholders of propriety (or repression, if you prefer) and proponents of free expression (or filth), but its real lesson is that the two sides depend upon each other. Or rather, that the continued vitality of the word—its unique ability to convey emphasis, relieve stress, shock grown-ups and function as adverb, noun, verb, intensifier and what linguists call 'infix'—rests on its ability to mark an edge between the permissible and the profane". In the Chicago Reader, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote that the documentary was an amusing film and an educational commentary on the word. According to Glenn Garvin of The Miami Herald, the film was an expansive merging of perspectives from politics, history and culture.

In a review for The Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten gave the film a rating of 4.5 out of five stars, concluding that it helped unravel myths surrounding the word and describing it as captivating and educational. Steve Schneider reviewed the film for the Orlando Weekly, comparing it to an academic thesis despite its repeated use of off-color humor. Noel Murray of The A.V. Club gave the film a grade of B-minus, stating that Fuck succeeded where Kirby Dick's This Film Is Not Yet Rated did not, by providing viewpoints from multiple perspectives. Karl French wrote in a review for the Financial Times that the documentary was unique and reasonably entertaining. Moira MacDonald asked, in a review for The Seattle Times, if viewers could embrace the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and still be leery of the word's omnipresence in society. Mick LaSalle wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that the commentators seemed monotonous and formulaic in debating freedom of speech, and criticized the film's repetition of the word "fuck".

Peter Keough reviewed the film for the Boston Phoenix; giving it a rating of two out of four stars, he also said that the repeated use of "fuck" grew tiresome. In a critical review for The Observer Philip French wrote that the film had low comedic value, calling it arrogant, puerile and tedious. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film two out of five stars, criticizing its lack of originality. In a review for Empire magazine, David Parkinson also gave the film a rating of two out of five stars and was frustrated that arguments by the director seemed guarded; he said that the film's scope was not comedic, amusing or provoking enough. In Time Out London David Jenkins gave the film one star out of six, writing that it lacked depth on the issues of linguistics, media, and censorship. A critical review by Noah Sanders of The Stranger concluded that the film was watchable and amusing, but poorly edited and organized. The St. Paul Pioneer Press criticized the film's length, which was echoed by The Washington Post, the Deseret News, The Herald and the New York Daily News. In a review for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White gave the film a grade C, calling it a dull compilation of childish observations and a failed attempt to spark a discussion about freedom of speech. Mike Pinsky of DVD Verdict concluded that the film's main arguments were achieved by the beginning of the documentary, and criticized its lack of subsequent structure and light tone overall.

Home media

THINKFilm reached an agreement to screen the documentary on the American premium cable channel Showtime in 2007, and it aired on the Documentary Channel on May 28, 2011. The DVD for Fuck was released by THINKFilm on February 13, 2007, and a United Kingdom DVD edition was released in 2009. For the DVDs, THINKFilm remastered the video for Fuck; it was optimized for home viewing with 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer to a 16:9 anamorphic full-frame presentation and Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 audio.

Trailers for Shortbus, Farce of the Penguins and The Aristocrats appear on the DVD before the documentary. Special features include a commentary track by Steve Anderson, interviews with Anderson and Bill Plympton, the film's theatrical trailer, a gallery for the introductory trailers, deleted scenes and interviews with Hunter S. Thompson and Tera Patrick. The disc includes an optional on-screen counter, giving viewers a running total of utterances (and appearances) of the word "fuck" during play.

Impact

Fuck has been a resource for several university courses. Christopher M. Fairman discussed the documentary in his article, "Fuck", published in February 2007 in the Cardozo Law Review. Fairman cited Anderson's decision to call his film Fuck and the marketing problems this entailed, saying that he and Anderson both found the title of their works helped spur debate on word taboos in society.

In an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent, Anderson said that a schoolteacher in Philadelphia had been fired for showing the documentary to his students. The teacher had researched the documentary, and wanted to teach his students the history of the word because of its frequent use in his class. Anderson said it was not the use of the word "fuck" in the film that cost the teacher his job, but a 38-second scene from a Fuck for Forest concert in Europe where a couple engaged in sexual intercourse onstage as environmental advocacy. The teacher showed the DVD to his 11th-grade journalism class at William Penn High School without previewing it or sending permission slips home to parents. He told the Philadelphia Daily News that before showing the documentary, he was unaware that it contained the clip showing sexual intercourse. He was dismissed from his position by the school principal, and his termination was upheld by the regional superintendent. The teacher did not appeal the decision, instead retiring. An analysis of the incident by the Philadelphia Daily News concluded that the school district's decision to fire the teacher was appropriate, but also agreed with the teacher's position that showing a 90-minute DVD should not have obliterated his 19 years as an educator.

Fuck was featured in a 2012 analysis in the academic journal Communication Teacher, "Do You Talk to Your Teacher with That Mouth? F*ck: A Documentary and Profanity as a Teaching Tool in the Communication Classroom", by Miriam Sobre-Denton of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Jana Simonis. Sobre-Denton and Simonis discussed the documentary's use for communication studies students studying university-level intercultural relations. Their research incorporated interviews with Steve Anderson, students and data from graduate-level classes in language and culture. Sobre-Denton and Simonis' conclusions correlated taboo words with social forms of power, rebelliousness, professionalism and gender roles.

See also

Footnotes

  1. "Think of the children" is a rhetorical device used by those who wish to cast youth as victims in order to win a political argument.
  2. Fuck is styled as FUCK, F★CK, or F*CK and alternatively referred to as Fuck: A Documentary and The F-Bomb: A Documentary.
  3. The on-screen counter tracks uses of "fuck" throughout the film in aggregate over time, starting from the beginning of the film.
  4. The film was recommended as a resource to students by Dr. Richard Stepp in his Fall 2007 course "Ethnographic and Documentary Film" at the University of Florida.
  5. See additional research by Miriam Sobre-Denton of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Jana Simonis published in the academic journal Communication Teacher.

References

  1. ^ Pinsky, Mike (March 12, 2007). "DVD Verdict Review – Fuck". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Peczek, Sam (March 27, 2009). "A multifunctional gem: Fuck (2005), directed by Steve Anderson". Culture Wars. London: Institute of Ideas. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  3. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (December 1, 2006). "F*ck". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  4. ^ French, Karl (February 11, 2009). "The slow road to revelation". Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
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