La Pietà

Probably the best film I saw at KVIFF this year. Eduardo Casanova is simply a fantastic director who has a clear vision and knows what and how he wants to convey to the audience. The relationship between the overprotective mother and son has been seen many times before, but never in the form that this film has. The pink home of the mother and son vs. the cool blue home of the father. Two worlds that intertwine and culminate in a great ending. I'm sure everyone will also enjoy the plot shifts to the North Korea, which was another slap in the face for me when I thought nothing could surprise me anymore. The film is simply a 10/10 and when it's released somewhere again, I'm running there. (06.07.2022)

A twisted, weird, bizarre Spanish mindfuck from Eduardo Casanova (whose skin is also very bizarre). This director definitely has a specific taste that may not suit everyone, but those who like films that are a bit out of the ordinary and try to shock the viewer will definitely find it to their liking. The poster alone suggests that this is a bit different stuff. The story is a sort of allegory on human manipulation featuring a downright toxic mother-son relationship (Oedipus complex-Stockholm syndrome), with the mother playing the role of a psychological dictator and the son meanwhile being consumed by an aggressive cancer while undergoing some pretty brutal treatments that will make you feel very uncomfortable. The scene where the boy's skull is opened and pieces of his brain are taken out during surgery, and it cuts to the mother having sex is brilliant ! I like films that break boundaries, try to shock and don't shy away from violence and La Pietá doesn't shy away from anything. There's also nail ripping, suicide, ubiquitous nudity and one very twisted birth, all in a slightly more artsy way. Casanova is a Spanish gourmet and I hope someone makes subtitles because it deserves attention. 75%. (20.03.2024)