The Embalmer Movie Review 2003

Peppino (Mahieux) is a dwarfish middle-aged taxidermist (the Embalmer of the title) who attaches himself to handsome but dumb Valerio (Manzillo). Peppino hires Valerio, gives him a place to live, and uses hookers to put the two men in bed together at the same time. When Valerio meets Deborah, a beautiful drifter, on a business trip, the result is a tug-of-war for Valerio's attention. Mahieux is brilliant as the creepy Peppino, who supplements his income with shady underworld deals. Manzillo does an adequate job as the blank, naive Valerio, who can't decide between barracuda Deborah and a relationship he doesn't entirely understand with Peppino. Director Garrone fills every moment with lurking dread and foreboding, adding distinctive visual flourishes and gritty details.

Distribution

Not Yet Released

Available on DVD
Running time 104 minutes.
Originally from Italian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Gays, Romantic Triangles, Waiters & Waitresses, Tragedy, Organized Crime, Contemporary Noir

Screenplay

Matteo Garrone, Ugo Chiti, Massimo Gaudioso

Cast

Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo, Elisabetta Rocchetti, Pietro Biondi, David Ryall, Bernardino Terracciano, Marcella Granito

Cinematography

Marco Onorato

Director

Matteo Garrone

Music

Banda Osiris

Other

Maricetta Lombardo, Marco Spoletini, Paulo Bonfini, Francesca Leondoff

Producer

Domenico Procacci, Fandango, First Run