- Release year: 2024
- Director: Dimitris Nakos.
- Producer: Thanos Anastopoulos.
- Screenplay by: Dimitris Nakos.
- Cinematography by: Giorgos Valsamis.
- Music by: Konstantis Pistiolis.
Synopsis: a kid is manipulated into taking responsibility for a crime he didn’t commit.
Shotgun Commentary: frustrating drama that touches upon very relevant and uncomfortable topics for society nowadays.
Review
Meat (original title: Kreas) is a Greek thriller/drama that follows a family of butchers through a tragedy that will show the true colours of its members. It is easy to be a good person when things go well, but how good would you be during a dangerous, life-changing situation? This film brings up a pretty uncomfortable question, the kind you wish you never have to answer, in the most honest, straight-forward way possible.
The basics
The main players in this story are Takis (Akyllas Karazisis), Eleni (Maria Kallimani), Pavlos (Pavlos Iordanopoulos), and Christos (Kostas Nikouli). Takis owns a butcher shop and a slaughterhouse. His wife Eleni is the second wife Taki’s has had, which gives her insecurities from time to time.
Then, there is Pavlos, their son, a pretty old man who seems incapable of doing even the most simple tasks properly. Lastly, Christos, who is an Albanian refugee that was taken in by Takis so he could stay in Greece. Now that you know who’s who, let’s get into the review.
One of the main topics that is brought up in this narrative is migration and the relationships and prejudice that locals tend to have against immigrants. A more hardcore case of this takes place in Harvest (2024), another of the films that featured this year’s GFF.
However, this particular portrayal feels more relevant due to its modern approach. You know, the one where people feel less xenophobe because they are not actually hanging foreigners, just spreading gossip about them possibly being murderers…
The nuanced approach
The toxicity and consequences of this “harmless” behaviour are perfectly portrayed in this story, avoiding unnecessary dramatic displays in favour of a more realistic approach, so the real issue is highlighted instead of excused. Many films opt for the opposite approach, to dramatise the problem as much as possible and go full-on gore, so their audience will hopefully be scarred for life into not being xenophobes.
Nevertheless, this critic is of the opinion that this technique, while it certainly does wonders to keep your attention, also draws it away from the core of the message. If the commentary is too grisly, people might not recognise other less aggressive ways in which their prejudice causes damage. By sticking to a less violence perspective, one can see how more common behaviours can also lead to tragedy.
Grey villains
As for the family that leads the story, they are put in a very difficult situation. When it comes to your kids or other members of your family, it is hard to tell how far you’d go to protect them. At the end of the day, the saying “blood is thicker than water” is popular for a reason. One never knows how much they are willing to cover for their lovers ones, or how much they are willing to harm others to ensure their well-being, regardless of their innocence.
It is very easy to just judge the characters, but the truth is, both Takis and Eleni act in the same way thousands of parents would to protect their kids. Sadly, Pavlos’ behaviour is also the reflection of kids who are systematically over-protected and psychologically bullied by their parents.
Yes, there is such thing, and it is more common that you might think. Despite the immense amount of guides and self-help books, there are no real rules on how to be a parent, and one might fall into both behaviours not because one’s a bad person, quite the opposite, because one’s trying to do what is best for one’s kids.
All in all, Meat tackles very complex subjects in a thrilling narrative that is as stressful as it is riveting. For anyone in the mood for a nice thriller or great social commentary, this is a must-watch.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Bit of an obvious one, but if you witness a murder, CALL THE POLICE.
- You never know how people will react in a moment of crisis, including yourself.
- If you are not a national and there is a problem, get as far away from it as possible.
What’s your take? Have you watched Meat? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀