Director: Damian Szifron
By Alex Watson
.
Based around theme of vengeance, Argentine director, Damian Szifron has created something utterly unique in his movie Wild Tales. Boasting some of the most unexpected raw humor to grace in our screens in a long time- the result is one of pure shocks followed by intense laughter. Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar (eventually losing to Polish movie Ida), Szifron's movie deserves its critical plaudits and is by far one of the strongest and most unexpected movies of the 2015.
Six different stories blend this film together as we see an airline full of people who all seem to coincidentally know the same person. Meanwhile a young waitress (Julieta Zylberberg) notices a familiar face enter her restaurant and plots revenge. A wealthy man Diego (Leonardo Sbaraglia) engages a 'Duel' style battle with Mario (Walter Donado). Engineer Simon (Ricardo Darin) has his life destroyed by parking fines. A rich family must deal with their son causing an awkward death and set up an unlikely fall guy and a couple's (Erica Rivas & Diego Gentile) dream wedding soon becomes a living nightmare.
Wild Tales unique sense of humour becomes apparent from the get go as up in the air, a simple meeting between and attractive man and woman, soon becomes something far more hilarious as it seems that everyone around appears to know a man called Gabriel Pasternak! What follows is both stunning but intensely hilarious. All throughout, Szifron effortlessly makes each story magnificently stand out by itself. Simon's story is by the far the most affecting as by being continually frustrated by unhelpful and apathetic towing company and government employees- his life is turned upside down!
What is most impressive about each segment is the variety of locations and scenarios that are thought up. The highway based battle between Mario and Diego best demonstrates this as it will make you think twice about who you tick off on the desert roads! Romina and Ariel's wedding is at first a picture perfect affair, but after an 'awkward confession' comes forward it descends into something resembling a horror film as the bride loses all sense of public conscience. By the end its a wonder they haven't murdered one another on the spot!
The theme of middle class frustrations is gleefully reflected by a mixture of unlikely violent and vengeful scenarios. In doing this, Szifron has created an magnificent anthology film that sticks with us long after and will succeed in making us think about the people we know and what could be bubbling below surface. It may have lost out on the big prizes, but it will always be considered one of the more remarkable pieces of South American cinema in years to come!
Performance wise, Ricardo Darin shines brightly as Simon and his repressed frustrations are exploded onto screen with such power. After watching his life being continually sucked down the drain- his revenge on his former tormentors is one to saviour! Erica Rivas and Diego Gentile also deserve immense credit as the doomed pair Romina and Ariel. The horror on Gentile's face is priceless as his perfect wife turns into a monstrous bridezilla. Rivas is stunningly horrifying as the unhinged wife, but eventually we figure that through everything they are perfect for one another!
Wild Tales is a movie that deserves your time and attention because in 2015, you will not see another movie that is quite like this one. Just remember that next time you board a plane, drive a car or attend a loved ones wedding- do not count anything out!
No comments:
Post a Comment