2023 Movie
Dir. Lucien Castaing-Taylor & Véréna Paravel · France, Switzerland · French
A literal exploration into our flesh and blood, not for the faint of stomach
While primarily a showcase of endoscopic footage of various surgeries in different hospitals throughout Paris—which should already be enough to either make you queasy or inspire introspection into the fragility of our lives—this singular, experimental documentary places all this bloodshed in the context of the mundanity of the medical profession. Much of the film is taken up by muted conversation from the surgeons and footage of elderly patients wandering around, creating an even more surreal look into the lack of support these hospitals receive. It’s far more abstract than it is educational, but its commitment to getting its hands dirty makes it an unforgettable experience.
An extraordinary adventure through the interior of the human body; or the discovery of an alien landscape of unprecedented beauty.
"One of Paravel and Castaing-Taylor’s most challenging and beguiling works."
— David Jenkins
"The demystification of the machine that contains the ghost makes the feats of both the surgeons and the filmmakers feel all the more transcendent."
— Leila Latif
Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.
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