Giant's Kettle (Finland) by Markku Hakala, Mari Käki, "a truly unique cinematic experience"

Giant’s Kettle opens with an unnamed factory worker (Henri Malkki), disillusioned by the monotony of his daily routine and desperate for human connection. He meets a woman (Kirsi Paananen), a student ostracized by the patriarchal structure of academia. It seems as if the pair’s chance encounter will lead to a break in the cycle, a splash of color in their otherwise monochrome existence. On the contrary, as the pair move in together, marry, and start a family, the mundanities of life persist, leaving them perpetually searching for something more.

It’s a straightforward premise tackled with the utmost originality. Composed wholly of one-take scenes with no camera movements, the film crafts a surrealist, dystopian realm in which the characters push-and-pull with the confines of societal structure. Directors Markku Hakala and Mari Käki place their subjects within liminal spaces defined by an unsettling application of light and shadow. The set design is excellent, employing a surrealist vision of depth and scale, while also utilizing static backgrounds evocative of the matte paintings of classic cinema. There is a complete absence of dialogue, save for a few muted passages left intentionally untranslated, making it a curious homage to the silent era, while also a tale that's decidedly modern in its introspective commentary on societal norms, ambition, and the true meaning of happiness.

The narrative evolves from an offbeat love story into a bleak, horror-infused journey through a world that's somehow both otherworldly and familiar at the same time. A macabre family drama defined by its minimalist, portrait-like visual style, Giant’s Kettle subverts expectations, toys with your emotions, and crafts a truly unique cinematic experience.

Review by Shane McKevitt for Venice Film Week: https://www.venicefilmweek.com