Wild Tales

Wild Tales illustrates when losing control is one hell of a ride.

Has life ever simply been too much to bear? Upon reflection, is all you see a procession of disastrous moments perpetrated by a string of peoples you've had the misfortune to encounter throughout your dreary existence? Presumably that's what was going through the mind of the pilot who plummeted all said "peoples" travelling at hundreds of miles per hour in a commercial jet straight into a residential garden whereupon - it's safe to assume - his parents were reposed sipping on iced tea and reading a newspaper. It was a shocker of a start to a film before even the opening credits rolled! My mouth was agape and didn't close again until the feature had come to a close.

There are six tales in total and every one of them centres on individuals who've had enough in the extreme. I've only covered my four favourite here so if you want to learn more after all these spoilers I suggest you just watch it. It's worth it.

If you've ever been gripped by the fury of road rage then feel relief and laughter as two grown men hash it out following an atypical incident upon the worn tarmac. It was a battle of wits that involved being run over, shitting on a wind screen, a makeshift petrol bomb and a hapless bridge. As the two burnt out corpses lay side by side the police deduced it was a 'crime of passion'. Bloody brilliant.

Ever wanted to stick it to the man? Is the system just not working for you? Then what you need is a hero! How about a middle-aged demolitions expert and a family man to boot with enough gusto to calculatedly blow up a tow truck without harming anyone? Look no further, this film has just that! I honestly thought he would suffer an ignoble imprisonment as most convicted felons do -- but not this guy! We celebrate with him as his family, the police and fellow inmates applaud his courage and civil disobedience with a large cake and smiles all round.

My favourite short, however, was the grand finale. The wedding. We witness an entire marriage life cycle in one night. The bride discovers her husband had been diddling a female coworker who was in fact at the wedding reception. Brokenhearted, she seeks solace in the comfort of a chef's philosophy on life atop the venue's rooftop: just when you think that's a logical closure point, she hops onto the gastronome's penis as a form of revenge and wreckless abandon. Upon the husband discovering her indiscretion the newly wed bride informs him that she shall not be seeking a divorce but instead will fuck whomever, whenever and wherever she likes, that all his money will become her own and that effectively his life is over. The husband reasonably vomits. Seems fair? It does in a way.

What follows then is an erratic display of heartache and loveless passion as the bride - now Bridezilla, more closely related to the actual Godzilla than spoilt-brat-zilla - is determined to enjoy her wedding party to the max! Even if it was at the cost of dignity, I felt she was desperately trying to distance herself from her shattered heart. It was intoxicating. Many tears later, feet full of glass and a perfectly ruined wedding cake the seemingly inconsolable couple find reconciliation. All their mistakes, betrayals and misplaced passions are taken in the stride of a wild love for one another. A happy ending, all in all.

This film was a triumph in my eyes. The whole cast gave great performances and the story-telling was on point for me. Even putting aside all interpretations of what the stories mean etcetera it is still an incredibly entertaining film from start to finish. Loved every second of it.

5 berserkers out of 5