PIG: A Profound, Pleasant Surprise
When you read the logline of Pig, you would think NEON has acquired US distribution rights for the next Mandy or indie John Wick. Nicolas Cage plays a truffle hunter, his foraging pig gets kidnapped, and now he must return to his past in Portland on a desperate search. Sounds like crazy fun where Cage gets to let loose, right?
To my surprise, Pig never takes that route. Writer and director Michael Sarnoski ensures us from start to finish that his film will be restrained, beautiful, but full of anger and heartbreak underneath.
Beautiful Mood, Revealing Storytelling
In a similar vein to films like Leave No Trace and First Cow, Pig is quick to establish its aesthetic and tone within the first few minutes. We are greeted to sprawling wide shots of forests, with Rob (Cage) and his truffle pig quietly going about their day. The sounds of leaves being crunched when being walked over, of digging, and of birds chirping engulf us like an ASMR tape. It’s a lonely lifestyle, but it brings Rob peace.
Once the pig is taken, and Rob returns to the city, to the world of other people, the story begins to expand in extremely compelling ways. Everyone in the town seems to know him. He has a reputation – furthermore, a sense of history – around the place. It brought to mind the same kind of storytelling power found in films like Manchester by the Sea. It’s a screenplay that respects the audience for paying attention to every line of dialogue, since dialogue is used at its most minimal.
In every chapter of the film, named after an intricate dish, Pig drops more and more reveals about who Rob is, where he came from, and how he ended up where we found him in the beginning. Along the way, Cage brings a grounded, sobering performance. It contrasts the insane meme-worthy energy he is most known for, reminding us that he is Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage.
Careful, Delicate Direction
Accompanying Cage are equally restrained performances from Alex Wolff and Adam Arkin, a father-son pair who reside in the gastronomy world that Rob has clearly chosen to leave. From a scene in a fancy restaurant to a scene in a home office, every dialogue scene with Cage is performed and directed like a quiet showdown, where characters who have never met pit their histories, judgments, and reserved emotions against each other.
Just like a chef is delicate with their ingredients, Sarnoski is very delicate here with his writing and direction. At times, he brings about a surreal psychological effect where we are almost living inside Rob’s head. The cinematography, lighting, and choice of editing all contribute to a sense of tension, making us think someone is about to snap and go off the rails. At other times, Sarnoski would choose a wide shot and just let the camera sit, as we watch Rob quietly talk to a baker – it’s certainly one of the most intimate but devastating moments in the entire film.
There’s a Deeper, More Profound Story at Work
Through these moments of dialogue and occasional scenes of cooking and eating, you would forget, in the best way, that the plot of this film was supposed to be about a man trying to look for his stolen pig. As Pig progresses to its climax and ending, it becomes clear that Sarnoski had a lot more on his mind than just plot. On the surface, yes, the film flirts with commentary on the fakeness of the restaurant industry. However, that isn’t the thing that will stay with you when the film is over.
Pig, at its core, is a story about grief, how that affects a man’s way of living, and furthermore, how that affects strangers who live in a world he used to be a part of. It’s a surprisingly profound piece of work from Sarnoski, who challenges us to be still, to be present with Rob, and to try to understand just how he is where he is. With excellent performances, gentle direction, and an incredibly moving musical score by Alexis Grapsas and Philip Klein, Pig was a big surprise.
It was the exact opposite of what I thought the film was going to be, and it ended up being a film I never knew I needed until now.
Did you see Pig? What did you think of the film? Share below!
Pig will be released in theaters on July 16, 2021.
Watch Pig
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