1991
Directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Apparently Empire magazine has claimed this film is "simply essential viewing for vegetarians." Speaking as a vegetarian, I would hardly call this a must see, although I guess we are portrayed as heroes/weirdos. Seems about right.
In post apocalyptic France, food is scarce and used as currency. A butcher posts job opportunities in the local paper (because apparently that would still be a thing) in order to lure victims to his shop. He then slaughters his "workers" and uses them for meat. When a former clown applies for the job, the butcher is so impressed with his knife skills that he decides not to kill him right away. This gives the clown time to start a romance with the butcher's daughter. The whole thing is rather disgusting, but at least we don't have to see graphic clown sex.
This film is very delighted with its own strangeness, but I am not sure it entirely worked for me. I didn't find it overly disturbing, but the absurdist humor really didn't work for me. I suppose it would go in the Siskel and Ebert category of "Comedies That Didn't Make Us Laugh." I guess its aim wasn't to crack the audience up; its intention was probably to blow us away with the odd visuals. Admittedly, it was unusual but overall, it was an ugly film that I wanted to look away from.
I can see some people loving this one. I didn't, but hey, it was something different and that can satisfy the taste buds sometimes. More than Dominique Pinon can, anyway.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
The year that this film takes place is approximately 12,150 CE.
