Animal

This incredible exploration of the human psyche and nature is maybe a bit of an acquired taste, but a deeply artistic and appreciated title indeed, and a highlight of the year on the arthouse scene. The actors all do an incredible job, as one would expect from such great Greece actors. Very career defining, nuanced, raw and sublte. The script is very unique, a bit reminiscent of the film How to have sex from last year, but even more intense to an whole other level. Very beautiful and artistic. The cinematography, cutting and editing is great, very unique and unconventional, very much in line with the tone of the film. Overall, definitely an incredible and masterful achievement, that is highly recommended, for those in the right mind set and with the specific taste!

A dark depiction of life as a seasonal worker at an All Inclusive hotel. We get an insight into what the concept and the parallel reality going on there does to those who work and those who are guests in this type of place. How a dynamic is created and everyday principles and values are put out of play. We meet people who fled from their past in search of a better life with opportunities, only to end up in an existence that is empty of real hapiness and joy. Without goals or dreams. As a viewer, I am left with a heavy heart and a feeling that the illusion of freedom many times holds us captive.

Saw this movie when it was viewed in Göteborg Film Festival 2024. I really liked this moving movie. It's realistic and cold, but still warm in its telling of the story. For me it's those conflicting feelings this movie transmits. It shows tragedies behind the happy faces of people seasonal working in the tourism industries, but it also shows people taking care of each other's back and how important the love between them are. It's a story about loneliness, hopes and dreams that has had to be tucked away through out the years and what that does to you. The main character has a lot to deal with and still the show must go on, mustn't it?

The film lasts about 2 hours where practically nothing happens other than a bunch of characters singing and dancing akwardly and talking every now and again. What is most annoying is that the camera moves right and left all the time like this is some kind of great direction. This is done constantly throughout the film and it was very annoying. In the end, I felt nauseated and bored. I would definitely not recommend, even though the acting was pretty good. Vacuous, boring and utterly predictable. The film really focuses on one character and everyone else is left behind. Definitely one to avoid - sadly I am not getting my time back.

Poor direction, zero concept, untalented actors. Literally nothing happens. And it's not like you watch a directorial masterpiece. The characters are not developed at all. There is the usual sex scenes that serve no purpose, some character has a generic sad background, the protagonist is blue without just because, nothing is really dramatic, endless small scenes that serve nothing else than making this film longer than it should be. As usual, the Greek privileged lobby that pretends to make art, gave kudos to one another and their desperately pretentious viewers thought they saw something interesting just so they can fit. Enough.

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