Cowards Bend the Knee (2003)

Silent films, sexual repression, and hockey collide in Guy Maddin’s Cowards Bend the Knee (2003). In this ode to small-town Canadiana, Guy (Darcy Fehr) is the star player for beloved hockey team the Winnipeg Maroons. But these days he’s more interested in playing tonsil hockey with his girlfriend Veronica (Amy Smart), and the resulting contact sport leaves Veronica “indisposed”. The pair calls on hairdresser/back alley abortionist Lilliom (Tara Birtwhistle) to take care of their problem, but Guy dumps Veronica in the middle of the procedure when he sees Lilliom’s daughter, the cold, cruel, beautiful Meta (Melissa Dioniso). But before Guy can put his hands on Meta’s sweta meat, she’s got a task for him that is (literally) killer. Femme fatale Melissa Dioniso gives us the good kind of silent treatment when she doffs her top to expose her ripe melons 12, 17, and 23 minutes in. Cowards may bend the knee, but Mr. Skin jerks the wrist!