The Embalmer (2002)
"L'imbalsamatore" (original title)

Peppino is an aging taxidermist constantly ridiculed for being short and somewhat creepy. He meets Valerio, a handsome young man fascinated by Peppino's work. Peppino, in turn, becomes ... See full summary »

Director:

Matteo Garrone

Writers:

Ugo Chiti (story), Massimo Gaudioso (story),

Stars:

Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo, Elisabetta Rocchetti

6 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ernesto Mahieux	...	Peppino Profeta
Valerio Foglia Manzillo	...	Valerio
Elisabetta Rocchetti	...	Deborah
Lina Bernardi	...	Deborah's Mother
Pietro Biondi	...	Deborah's Father
Bernardino Terracciano	...	Boss
Marcella Granito	...	Manuela
Giuseppe Arena	...	Workshop's Owner
Vincenzo Puocci	...	Gangbanger #1
Renato Puocci	...	Gangbanger #2
Valentino Puocci	...	Gangbanger #3
Antonella Lori	...	Boss's Wife
Aldo Leonardi	...	Deborah's Boss
Nadia Carlomagno	...	Peppino's Friend #1
Rita Brugnoli	...	Peppino's Friend #2

Storyline

Peppino is an aging taxidermist constantly ridiculed for being short and somewhat creepy. He meets Valerio, a handsome young man fascinated by Peppino's work. Peppino, in turn, becomes entranced by Valerio and offers him a large salary to come work as his assistant. But when Valerio meets Deborah, their fledgling romance is threatened by an insanely jealous third wheel.

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | based on fact | gay | female nudity | oral sex | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

6 September 2002 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Taxidermist

Filming Locations:

Castel Volturno, Caserta, Campania, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,313 (USA) (18 July 2003)

Gross:

$55,606 (USA) (19 December 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fandango, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (MiBAC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"I'm Your Man"
Written by Leonard Cohen
Performed by Leonard Cohen
Courtesy of Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Top Quality Italian Noir

It's a noir, no doubt... you even have the dark lady. Take three excellent actors, a well-chosen setting, a young and talented director, and you have L'imbalsamatore. Once again, when an Italian director is really good, like Sergio Leone, he can take an American film genre, turn it upside down and make a great Italian movie. However, Garrone proved how good he is not just by filming this, but by making another masterpiece, that is, Gomorra. If you like this one, try also the other movie. Basically one of the plots of Gomorra is set in the same places where L'imbalsamatore is set.

Another important element of the film is the landscape. When Italian directors are at their best, they can render landscape like no one. Garrone can do this with the wastelands of Northern Campania.

Hats off, then, to Ernesto Mahieux, who delivers an impressive performance that you won't forget easily...