re:mote voices

Title: The Embalmer [L’Imbalsamatore]
Cast: Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo, Elisabetta Rocchetti, Lina Bernardi
Director: Matteo Garrone

I’m just back from seeing my second film in the Italian film festival, the first was Now Or Never, a review of which is half written. I had hopes for The Embalmer, or perhaps more appropriately, and as the subtitles suggested The Taxidermist. Unsurprisingly the main character is a taxidermist, a creepy dwarf guy, who as rumours suggest has mafia connections.

Peppino the taxidermist is at the zoo when he spots a young man. Talking to the man he decides that he is worth pursuing, so manages to persuade him to come and work for him. From there Peppino puts Valerio in increasingly awkward situations, forming a slow seduction, without making it evident that is what his plan is. However Peppino is upset when Valerio meets Deborah, and the two of them seem to be forming a pretty serious relationship. At first he holds off, hoping it is a passing thing, but increasingly he is menacing.

This has a curious result and one which could have worked to have been quite disturbing if played properly. However it kind of falls flat, so that the inevitable confrontation that comes at the end of the film doesn’t have the menace it could have. But then perhaps the film is actually trying to create a degree of sympathy for Peppino? A man who thinks he may have found something special with Valerio, to the point where we witness his tears when it looks like things are coming apart. That would certainly contrast the number of times that Valerio is told that Peppino is evil. In the end I’m not entirely sure what to make of The Taxidermist, certainly while watching it I could feel myself growing increasingly restless, and as it finished my strongest feeling was of dissatisfaction.