After three magnificent short films (Awaker, Cloudy, and Sounds Between the Crowns), Filip Diviak moved on from fantasy and the medieval universe to embrace more contemporary fiction. But he retained his love of a good narrative and here he serves up what at first may seem like a run-of-the-mill story but quickly turns out to be thrillingly original. As in all his films, a little says a lot – in fact, before a word is even spoken here we understand that Edgar is a very fastidious man who pays attention to every detail, especially in his home. And yet, the shock of what he sees in the abattoir leads him to adopt a calf without hesitating. And that decision will literally upend everything! Through the eyes of this adult who has kept his (big) kid’s heart we see a political stance on agri-food industry, meat consumption and animal abuse. These are interesting topics that quickly raise questions. Just as Edgar steps back from his daily life, Filip Diviak encourages us to take a step back from our society, think beyond this touching story and look afresh at vital existential issues. That might all sound a bit heavy but thankfully the director has not forgotten his humour and always finds clever ways to generate laughs.
