Broken Mirrors, Broken Minds

11th April 2011

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TAXIDERMIA (dir. György Pálfi, 2006)

This brilliantly twisted triptych of three generations of related men may well be like nothing you have ever seen.

Beginning with a low-ranked officer situated in a rural farmhouse in WWII, who despite being regimented to his cause, struggles to keep his sexual fantasies at bay. When he one day has (seemingly imaginary) rampant sex with the Lieutenants wife on top of butchered swine, she later gives birth to a baby boy with a pigs tail. We then see the boy as a grown adult, an internationally reknowned speed-eater no less, and thus the second story unfolds. Circumstances dictate, producing the birth of another  baby boy, which in turn leads us into the final act. To give further narrative detail away would be harsh, as there is much amusement to be had here. 

Stylistically reminiscent of the work of Jean-Pierre Jeunet (particularly his collaborations with co-director, Marc Caro) and the recent output of Roy Andersson. Yet this is an altogether darker fare. Imagine a more gross-out version of the BBC’s League of Gentlemen series. With the themes and messages seeming to highlight societies desire to consume and control (and indeed to control our own urges), this has more in tone with the more subversive offerings of Bunuel, or Pasolini’s Salo even (particular in the middle segment).

Frequently hilarious, often stomach churning, Hungarian director György Pálfi has given us a surrealistic pillow to put our heads down upon.

Just don’t expect to eat very much immediately afterwards.

Tagged: taxidermia 2006György Pálfijeunetmarc carobunuelpasolinisalo