neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Embalmer
	Matteo Garrone Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo, Elisabetta Rocchetti, Lina Bernardi, Pietro Biondi, Bernardino Terracciano, Marcella Granito 2002		A crafty Italian film reminiscent of director David Lynch's macabre obsessions, "The Embalmer" is a disconcerting leer at a strange sexual triangle. Middle-aged, dwarfish Peppino and pouty bimbo Deborah both lust after handsome, studly Valerio. Peppino, played with authoritative malevolence by Ernesto Mahieux, is a taxidermist who strikes up a friendship with Valerio (Valerio Foglia Manzillo). Besides stuffing and mounting animals, Peppino uses his embalming skills, part-time, in the service of a mobster with plans for some corpses he's accumulated. The extra money he earns by working for the don enables Peppino to hire Valerio as an assistant; the rest of the cash is spent on booze and hookers to impress the younger man. All is going well until Valerio meets the desirable Deborah (Elisabetta Rocchetti). She sees that the taxidermist's heterosexual pose masks his craving for Valerio. When she makes her own move on Valerio, jealous Peppino strikes back. Director/co-writer Matteo Garrone is concerned with the perverse ways people try to control one another. Thus, Peppino's predatory attempts to manipulate Valerio are more repulsive than the homely little man's profession or his physical shortcomings.