“Philovatism” is a rather dull psychoanalytic term for a syndrome which has in fact produced some of the most exciting moments on film! Defined as the desire for thrills, philovatism was the subject of Amy, a recent film by British filmmakers Laura Mulvey and Peter Wollen which analyzes the exploits and image of Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo to Australia, in terms of her need to experience thrills. Tonight's films take a serious and playful look at the complicated relationship between women in our culture, and the phenomenon of aerial thrill-seeking. On Sunday, the men take a spin (but this only makes the female connection all the more complex!). Also worth a ponder is the relationship of the film audience to all of this. Are we, all of us, nothing but vicarious philovats?
