'Pig' (2021) is a drama centering around Rob, a hermit living in the Oregon woods with his truffle pig. He sustains his way of life by supplying mushrooms to Amir in exchange for groceries and other essentials. One day, his pig is taken, and Rob returns to Portland to find the person who stole his pig.
The story sets off by showing the simple life Rob leads, living in the woods, hunting for truffles and spending his time uninterrupted by the outside world. Amir drops by to collect the mushrooms on their weekly scheduled day, introducing him as a sharp but impertinent young man. Later that day, Rob is assaulted at his home and his pig is taken. Devastated, Rob heads to a diner from where he contacts Amir, and the two head to a local truffle hunter, who leads them to a couple of junkies that she suspects to be at fault. Finding the junkies without the pig, the duo pick up on the fact that the pig may be somewhere in Portland. Rob decides to head to the city and reach out to Edgar, - a man who may have information to lead them to the pig. As Rob infiltrates Edgar's underground fighting ring and reveals himself to be the legendary chef, Robin Feld, changing Amir's perspective of the situation. After being badly beaten, Amir takes Rob to his place, and the two breakfast together the next morning.
Following a lead the two obtained from Edgar, Amir and Rob head to 'Eurydice', a contemporary restaurant whose chef, Derrick, used to work for Rob as a pasta chef. After criticizing Derrick for not opening an English pub as he had spoken about before, emasculated Derrick reveals that Darius, - Amir's father, was the one behind taking the pig. Shocked and angered, Rob breaks his partnership with Amir, and heads to Darius's to demand the pig back. Darius offers Rob money, which he refuses and the discussion deteriorates with Darius threatening to kill the pig if Rob tries to come near him again. Later, after visiting his mother, who is revealed to be comatose, Amir heads to pick up Rob, and the two decide to recreate a dinner that Rob had made for Amir's parents years ago. Overwhelmed by the memories of how happy Darius was at that time, the man breaks down and reveals that the pig had died, as the junkies mishandled and were too rough with her. Rob and Amir then head back to the diner from which Amir picked Rob up, and Rob decides to continue their partnership despite the whole affair. The film concludes by showing Rob return to his home.
The film is an intense dramatic account of one man's woes, his approach to a solitary life and an intriguing insight into a fascinating discovery of his past. The film is split into thee acts, each suitably advancing the progression of the story and appropriately pacing the drama, with the opening providing apt exposition, - not hitting the viewer over the head with it, rather allowing the circumstances to develop organically, following Rob and his simple way of life. Moreover, the audience is shown how important the pig is to Rob, thereby making it all the more effective as the home invaders come and take her away. Part two accelerates the pace, showing us that Rob is a man of determination and will leave his comfort zone in order to protect that which is important to him. Along the way we also get to know Amir, - someone who initially comes off as brash, but eventually, through revealing his insecurities and personal concerns, becomes relatable and pitiable to a certain extent. Act three aptly delivers a conclusion to the story, yet does so by also delivering a deeper insight into each of the characters personalities, revealing Rob's attachment to the pig for its companionship rather than needing it to find truffles, uncovering Amir's want to be appreciated and respected by a father figure and showing Darius's emotions towards his wife, the time they shared together and the pain he feels for having lost her.
'Pig' succeeds in telling its story by revealing a little at a time, - it is not till the end of the second act that we discover that Rob lost his wife, or that Amir's mother's suicide attempt resulted in her being in a coma, adding more weight to each of the characters suffering and making their actions and choices more meaningful as based on their circumstances. Additionally, the film does not shy away from expressing the pressure each of the three men feel, - Rob due to his past as a renowned chef, Amir in trying to make his own way in a cut-throat business, and Darius in trying to maintain a hold on his business empire. Each of the men's personal issues are addressed and the film ensures the message is carried over when expressing the pain and sorrow they feel due to loss.
The film is carried by Nicolas Cage as Robin Feld, delivering a strong performance in a stoic and headstrong character who is of a single mind to preserve his relationship with an unlikely companion. Even though the premise may initially sound odd, the actor puts enough behind the story to show us the pain that has resulted from him losing his pig. Without using overly intense expressions of misery, Cage masterfully reveals his character through providing intermittent insights into his way of thinking as he converses with those around him, showcasing his urge to preserve real connections and not being too concerned with the airs those around him put on to preserve an artificial impression of their status. Perhaps most significantly, a scene in the film where Cage's Rob and Wolff's Amir share breakfast, Rob tells Amir about a dormant volcano that is due to level the north east, expressing a nihilistic view of life and highlighting the meaninglessness of the things most people hold in such high regard. After moments of such introspection, we are shown that Rob only looks to preserve real connections, with the film concluding by him inviting Amir to carry on their arrangement, showing that Rob potentially wants Amir around as he has found a genuine connection with him.
Alex Wolff portrays Amir, the flashy truffle dealer that uses Rob to further his business and career. Wolff does an outstanding feat in delivering an entirely unlikeable character that, over the course of the film, is revealed to be a relatable individual, harbouring feelings of resentment towards his father and craving approval. Wolff's slow shift to uncovering the persona that is Amir speaks volumes towards the actors ability, adding another dimension to the movie, by illustrating a different side of pain derived from loss. Together with Cage, the two actors develop an peculiar companionship and manage to intrigue the viewers and to root for both of them to achieve some form of contentment, as their journeys thus far have been grim.
The film is written by Michael Sarnoski and Vanessa Block, and directed by Sarnoski in his feature directorial debut. The film is a stunning visual treat in portraying Rob's surroundings as an almost idyllic place to be. On entering the city, the character is shown to be overwhelmed not only by having to overcome his personal reservations towards re-entering society, but also showing contentment towards the concrete jungle. The film benefits by using largely muted tones, reflecting the sombre mood our characters are experiencing. The feature is a great illustration of captivating storytelling as Sarnoski allows the viewers to be engrossed in the tale, with interesting and captivating revelations peppered throughout the story, letting it unfold and not losing any of its potency till the closing credits.
'Pig' succeeds on many levels, as it delivers an interesting story through well paced reveals, by maintaining a bitter-sweet tone, creating a melancholy atmosphere and ending the story on a cautiously optimistic note, imbuing the viewer with feelings of hope towards contemplating what genuine connections they have in their life, and seeking to fortify that which they hold dear.
Score: 4/4
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