A truffle hunter finds himself forced back into a past he abandoned, after his beloved pig is ruthlessly stolen from him. As he emerges from his quiet life in the woods, Rob will have to face his trauma in order to find peace.
★★★★★
Academy Award winning actor Nicholas Cage channels his energy to play Rob, a truffle hunter who is robbed of his beloved pig. In Pig, the audience witnesses this iconic actor give one of his more restrained performances, as he portrays a tightly wound loner that is far from the stereotypical man-in-the-woods trope. After two criminals steal his pig in the middle of the night, Rob has to trace their steps back to Portland, a city he left behind to go live in isolation.The movie is Michael Sarnoski’s directorial debut, and features Hereditary’s Alex Wolff as Amir, a supplier of luxury ingredients who buys truffles from Rob, and joins him on his search after being asked for help.
While Rob initially comes across as a brute, he is set up as an incredibly empathetic man from the beginning. This is essential to the plot, with the emotional stakes of the film being tied to Rob’s quest to get his pig back. His charisma allows his character to emanate a quiet confidence, one that is not boastful nor aggressive, but rather a product of complete emotional clarity. One of a man who has found said clarity by detaching himself from social convention. Rob and Nic have this in common. In one of the best scenes of the film, Rob uses this quality to slowly tear apart a man through a quiet conversation, in which he carefully picks at his insecurities to get him to reveal his true self. Without giving away too much detail, this leaves the man completely undone. Yet it is not done with malice: Rob understands that destroying his façade is the only way for this man to face himself and build a fulfilling life.
Opposite to Rob, everything about Amir screams insecurity, from the music he listens to, to the annoyingly bright yellow of his car, which stands in stark contrast to the rest of the film’s subdued palette. All these elements are brought together by an incredible performance. It is no secret that Alex Wolff is one of the greatest young actors working today: not only does his ability to tap into the truth beyond the script make him memorable in his own performances, but he is able to shine through even when working alongside more experienced actors. While this was clear from his performance in Hereditary, where he starred alongside an Oscar worthy Toni Collette, he matches Cage’s vulnerability. The bravado he displays in the first part of the film is obviously an act, the origins of which we learn by unpacking Amir’s relationship with his father. Yet it is his relationship with Rob that allows him to reject the hypocrisy of his lifestyle, fixing familial relationships that had long been broken.
What makes this film incredibly layered are not only the performances, but the symbolism presented through certain themes embedded in the writing. The more obvious one, given the Portland setting, is food. Food is the heart and soul of Pig. It is a recurring presence in both the plot and the dialogue, often used to mirror moments of emotional intimacy, between humans and animals alike. For instance, one of the first things we see Rob do is cook a meal for him to share with his pig. While this is a sweet moment on its own, as the plot progresses it gains significance, due to key revelations about Rob’s identity. When the characters are deprived of food, or a certain ingredient, the absence is deeply felt. Ironically, food is not the reason Rob embarks on this journey. While he is looking for his truffle pig, it is clear from early on that he doesn’t value the animal for its ability to procure the luxury ingredient, like the people around him assume. His companionship with the pig is much more important. Pig denounces the commodification of food from a necessary spiritual need, to another instrument of vanity.
The food design is worthy of the most expensive truffle. The prop department does an amazing job in fulfilling the expectations set up throughout the film. Not only do they succeed in making the plates look appetizing but, when needed, they are able to strip them down and render them depressingly pretentious. In a scene set in a high-end restaurant, the plate is presented covered in smoke. Not only does this fit the aesthetic such a restaurant would have, but it mirrors the inner conflict of the chef who prepared the plate. The smoke, meant to draw the attention of a superficial crowd, hides a plate prepared without passion nor spark: a wall of smoke, meant to cover the chef’s own fear of failure to follow his true vocation.
Pig is a slow-paced film that ponders on the importance of truth and individuality. It carries a complex message that is certain to reveal new facets of meaning upon rewatch, but it can also be enjoyed as a simple story of a man looking for his pig.
The Verdict
Pig is a soulful piece on loss and regret. Nicholas Cage and Alex Wolff stun by crafting characters that are as moving as they are authentic. Without ever stepping over the line or becoming overly dramatic, Pig will leave an impression in the hearts of film lovers.
Words by Elisabetta Pulcini
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