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THE EMBALMER Send This Review to a Friend
The Italian import "The Embalmer" is Matteo Garrone's strange tale about Peppino (Ernesto Mahieux), a dwarf-like man who is a taxidermist and embalmer, and his odd relationship with a waiter whom he invites to learn the business and work with him. The comedy is dark, and Diego (Valerio Foglia Manzillo), the waiter, finds his new life has plunged him into an uncomfortable closeness. Peppino is demanding and manipulative, and there is no easy exit from the situation that develops.
The main attraction of the film is its oddity. "The Embalmer" is quite unlike other films as a result of its uneasy, eerie relationship between the two main characters. Yet there is something off-putting about the tale at the same time. Neither Diego nor Peppino is particularly appealing, and therefore not much emotion is evoked.
This is not to fault the acting, which is first rate. Elisabetta Rocchetti also has a good role as a woman involved. The atmosphere is interesting too, what with the embalming profession as part of the set-up. Thus the film is attention grabbing, but ultimately more strange than satisfying. A First Run Features release.
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