Made without proper language, just gibberish and grunts, this is an absurdist comedy about a man who rejects every facet of normal bourgeois life and turns his apartment into a virtual cave.
Starring Michel Piccoli as the titular character, the film focuses on Themroc’s break from traditional societal roles following an encounter with his boss. At the film’s start, Themroc lives at home with his mother (Jeanne Herviale) and sister (Béatrice Romand), working as a painter during the day. It’s a mundane life, though he’s no star citizen as we’re quick to see. Themroc has an incestuous desire for his sister, ogling and sniffing her naked body as she sleeps.
Following this uncomfortable sequence, the film follows Themroc to work, where he’s caught ogling another woman through a window. It’s for this that his boss reprimands him. As a result, Themroc goes full caveman, eschewing the social norms he had previously upheld and causing an upheaval throughout his neighborhood.
It will come as no surprise that director Claude Faraldo’s film is strange. One thing to note is that there’s no dialogue. At least, no dialogue in the traditional sense. The characters here utter gibberish during their interactions, allowing the film to transcend the language barrier. We may not know what these characters are saying to each other, but we get the idea.
Despite this transcendence, the film didn’t work for me. It’s an easy enough watch, but it still feels like it goes on for too long. Running nearly two hours, the film runs itself into the ground by the end.
This Blu-ray™ release is a limited edition from Radiance Films. As usual, the limited edition features reversible artwork and a booklet with an essay on the film by Alison Smith. While I didn’t particularly care for the movie, Radiance’s transfer of the film is excellent. The booklet states this is a restoration in 4K resolution by Studio Canal. Picture quality was pristine. Viewers who appreciate the film grain will be satisfied. The soundtrack is also well presented.
Special features include a series of interviews, a picture gallery, the film’s trailer, and an Easter egg. The interview with David Thompson gives some context for the movie and explains the joke behind the Easter egg once you find it (hint: go to the set-up screen).
Altogether, putting together another great Blu-ray edition, “Themroc” will not be a movie for everyone, including me. Fans of weirdo cinema and more adventurous viewers will want to check this out. If more traditional storytelling is your cup of tea, avoid this one.
Now available on a Limited Edition Blu-ray™ from RADIANCE FILMS
10k
20k
1.5k
2.2k