There is a select genre of film in the world that doesn’t
fall into one specific category. It can be science fiction, western, mystery,
drama or more. It is a wide ranging genre that you won’t find listed among categories
on Netflix of Amazon Prime or Hulu. I call the genre “What the hell did I just
watch?” This category often rambles from one scene to the next, sometimes never
connecting those scenes or plunging us into what feels like a drug fueled
exploration of themes with no sense of direction or even providing little to no
story as it moves forward. Many times that isn’t so much a question of no story
so much as it is the writer/director putting his own vision on the screen even
if the rest of us can’t make head or tail of that vision. WE ARE THE FLESH
falls into this genre.
Let me start by trying to explain what we seem to be
watching. A man is confined to his home in what must be a post-apocalyptic
world. He mixes various items into a vat and extracts from that some form of
drug that he both uses a stopperful at a time and trades for eggs with some
unseen benefactor. Into his world arrive a brother and sister hungry and
looking for a place to crash. With a maniacal glee and a look reminiscent of
Charles Manson, he takes them in, feeds them and eventually breaks them down to
the point they have sex with one another. More happens but I’ll leave it at
that for those inclined to take the journey being told here.
But I should also let you know that the journey is strange
and by the end leaves you wondering what it was you just watched. It makes you
question what the point of the movie was or if there even was one. Maybe there
isn’t one. Or maybe this is an art film where only the director can interpret
the film, translating what the images he placed on screen meant or represented.
In other words it’s more art film than your average movie. If you like that
you’ll enjoy this. If you like more straightforward fare then this is one
you’ll hate.
There aren’t many straight out disturbing images here as
many films in this genre are prone to offer (consider the odd “baby” in David
Lynch’s ERASERHEAD) but it will offer something that people will talk about and
discuss or be offended by. Short of watching a porn flick the film offers
plenty of sexual situations and close ups of genitalia. It also offers what
appears to be various forms of on film sex starting with oral sex. If you’re
easily offended that should be your clue not to seek this film out. If it
doesn’t offend you don’t think that this film will stimulate you. It’s sort of
like porn on acid with bright colored lights shining on the action and shot in
a weird world of curved walls and slanted flats.
When all was said and done the ending twisted the entire
story I’d just watched. Yes, it has a twist ending. It doesn’t make the movie
good or bad but makes it even stranger still. Once more, whether you view that
as a good thing or a bad thing depends on how you view the movie. For me it’s
not something I will revisit and was more bad than good. It left me feeling
nothing except wondering how funding for films like this seems to come easily
for some while other projects I would find more interest in are left in the
dust. But that’s just my perspective. Some will come away loving this.
As far as the disc being offered here once more Arrow Video
outdoes themselves. Would anyone expect less? The quality of the print is
sharp, crisp and clean. Love or hate the images they are there to see in
perfect clarity. The extras are for fans of the film and the director offering
two shorts by director Emiliano Rocha Minter (Dentro and Videohome), interviews with director Emiliano
Rocha Minter and cast members Noé Hernández, María Evoli and Diego Gamaliel, a video
essay by critic Virginie Sélavy, the trailer and a still gallery. The film is
in Spanish but English subtitles are available.
Click here to order.
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