Attenberg

★★★

(2012)

Attenberg (a mispronunciation of our very own Sir David’s name) is a real oddball of a film. It’s essentially a tale of a sexually ambivalent and naive young woman, Mariana (A captivating Ariane Labed) giving into her growing urges as her father dies. It aims for awkwardness over shock value and more often than not, hits its mark. Unfortunately the emotional punch of the films ending is sadly misplaced somewhere amid the more surreal scenes along the way.

The scenes in question mainly draw comparisons between animal instinct and human nature or industry; In the films intro we witness Mariana and her best friend Bella kissing, getting angry with each other and then fighting like cats on the lawn. The pair sing french pop songs, listen to Suicide and butt heads in regard to our lead’s uptight take on sex and Bella’s chilly yet unashamedly bold approach to men. More comparisons abound when Mariana and her dying father play together like children mimicking apes in their poky flat while animal documentaries play endlessly.

The film takes its mood mainly from the unmissable Dogtooth, a film which was produced by Attenbergs director, Athina Rachel Tsangari. She applies the same overly theatrical brilliance which made it once of the best films of last year, it’s echo also felt in the casting of director Giorgos Lanthimos as Spyro, Mariana’s eventual love interest. However strange and wonderfully composed, Attenberg can’t quite reach the heights, beauty or horror of it’s amazing older sister.