Disco Pigs

This is an Irish love story with a dash of A Clockwork Orange. Kinda. Pig (Cillian Murphy) and Runt (Elaine Cassidy) were born on the same day, in the same hospital, at the same time. From birth, they are inseparable. Living in adjacent houses, their level of emotional communication seems almost telepathic, their vocal communication is a mixture of the intelligible and their own unique words and expressions.

Now in high school, things are beginning to fall apart. Pig’s testosterone is leading him into more pointlessly violent crime and aberrant behaviour as well as increasingly subject to sexual fantasies about Runt. Runt’s deep attachment to Pig can’t extend this far, and the collision between fantasy and reality has dramatic consequences for their private universe.

The debut feature from Kirsten Sheridan whose father is Jim Sheridan (a fact which probably helped in getting this film made), Disco Pigs is an interesting and well-made film, the Dogme 95 seal of approval attesting to its art cinema bona fides. As such it is a film which will appeal to a niche audience, one that can identify with its subject of teen angst. The performances are compelling and Elaine Cassidy won the British Independent Film Awards' Best Actress for her role. Unfortunately, for the ordinary viewer the film is quite unintelligible at times with heavy Irish accents and the main characters' own language leading to some head-scratching. (There are no subtitles on the DVD either). But that does add something towards the eccentricity of the film, if that is to your taste. The central concept however, whilst fascinating, doesn’t seem sufficient to carry the film. Disco Pigs is a tragedy that really needs a happy ending.

DVD Extras: Original theatrical trailer, interviews, behind the scenes featurette

Available from: Madman

 

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