|
TAXIDERMIA
*** out of ***** Reviewed by Root Screening in the 2007 New Zealand International Film Festival
Back to KP's Film Fest Coverage  Genres
Drama
2006
Directed by
György Pálfi
Written by
György Pálfi
Lajos Parti Nagy (short stories)
Zsófia Ruttkay
Cast
Csaba Czene - Morosgoványi Vendel
Gergely Trócsányi - Balatony Kálmán
Piroska Molnár - Hadnagyné
Adél Stanczel - Aczél Gizi
Marc Bischoff - Balatony Lajoska Taxidermia is a very odd film. It opens with a man drinking in the essence of a candle by sucking flame through his harelip only to shoot it back out his penis. Then it gets really weird.  György Pálfi, the film’s Hungarian director has chosen to tell the story of three generations of a family of truly disturbing characters. The first generation consists of the communist solider who has a vivid imagination and the ability to shoot magical things from his penis. These traits unfortunately lead to his early demise, but not before fathering a child that is part man, part pig, all fat. The child grows up to be a champion speed eater for the Hungarian national team, and not only wins glory for his nation, but the prize ham of the woman’s speed eating circuit. I will take this moment to warn the potential viewer that during this part of the film, there is an insane amount of vomiting as the fatties repeatedly stuff themselves and then hurl into specially designated areas. I am not squeamish, but even I felt mildly ill watching most of the film and I would recommend skipping the popcorn for this one, as it is guaranteed to make your stomach churn, if only a little. (Definitely not a date movie, unless your date is bulimic.)
But tragically, the love the couple shared was not to last (foreshadowed by his bride having sex on their wedding day with another speed eater, while the groom sings of his love to all at the reception, karaoke style.) The story moves on to the third generation to find that his parents have split up and his father now lives on his own, unable even to stand now with his incredible girth, with a pack of giant cats that he is training to eat by feeding them nothing but margarine. While being a dutiful son, he is nothing like his father. He is bone thin and withdrawn where his father is huge and grandiose. Where his father sits and eats hundreds of chocolate bars, foil on to save time, the son is weird in his own distinct way; taxidermy. It is clear that the film is meant to shock the audience, and it certainly succeeds. Be it weird sex, speed eating everything from gruel  to caviar, stuffing things that should be sacred; the film pushes the boundary of taste, but does so in a way that is somehow constantly amusing and fascinating. Its conclusion falls short of profound, but it is a movie more of emotion than ideas, and in the week since I saw it, I have reflected mostly on how it made me feel, not what it made me think. This film is not for everyone. It is also a lot of fun if you relax and don’t fight the natural urge you will feel to frown upon the characters and their baffling behaviour. At times you feel you really ought to look away from the screen, but simply cannot bring yourself to do it. It elicits a certain curiosity, much like seeing someone sunbathing nude from your office, or driving past a pile-up on the motorway. I can’t guarantee you will enjoy this film, but if you enjoy pushing your own boundaries, this is certainly the film for you. This film will screen in Wellington at The Paramount on July 30 at 8:30pm and July 31 at 1:45pm.
Please refer to the Film Fest homepage for more information on screenings in other parts of the country Back to KP's Film Fest Coverage |
