The audience reaction was superb for young filmmaker Chris Mangano's film "An Appetite for Bernard Brady" while screening at the Hatch Audiovisual Arts Festival in Bozeman, Montana.
"An Appetite for Bernard Brady" tells the story of a common man who lives a contented life, until he finds an old illustrated Bible picture of Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac on an altar, and he is put in mind of an old feeling long since buried. He suppresses himself until a co-worker shows him an online snuff film of a man being torn apart by two trucks, and he can contain himself no longer. Bernard Brady grew up with a keen fascination with death and a distinct longing to become one with the victim. Bernard Brady has a strong need to be useful. Bernard Brady has a strong need to be killed.
After going online to discover more outlawed fetish videos, Bernard Brady finds companionship in an chat room for cannibals, asking what wines they would chose if they were going to have him for dinner. He realizes that he will never feel fulfilled unless he is consumed by another person.
When his co-worker is fired for downloading more than just snuff films, Bernard feels that everything in life is temporary. If a trusted employee of 25 years can be fired for a slight transgression, there's no safety anywhere, and after a brief struggle with himself, Bernard Brady sends a video to a cannibal friend online.
"Hello, my name is Bernard Brady, and I want you to eat me." The film closes with an elegant stranger having dinner, and also a fine wine with his dinner.
The film is an intellectual discussion on the justification of sin, treading skillfully between supporting and condemning its own protagonist. Tactful, graceful and witty, director Chris Mangano takes an unpleasant subject and makes it enjoyable for the common viewer. What would normally surprise and offend the audience, delightfully and eerily unfolds in front of the viewer. Told almost entirely in silence, the actors who portray Bernard Brady, both young and old, convey torrents of thought and emotion through the eyes. On top of a strong cast, the film boasts an acute attention to detail. For example, there isn't a shot in the movie where Bernard Brady isn't eating. This constant focus on consumption underlies and foreshadows what's to come, and it's also very funny.
"An Appetite for Bernard Brady" is focused, well thought out, artistic and amusing. It provokes thought, and is an exciting teaser of things yet to come from the talented cast and crew.
"An Appetite for Bernard Brady" tells the story of a common man who lives a contented life, until he finds an old illustrated Bible picture of Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac on an altar, and he is put in mind of an old feeling long since buried. He suppresses himself until a co-worker shows him an online snuff film of a man being torn apart by two trucks, and he can contain himself no longer. Bernard Brady grew up with a keen fascination with death and a distinct longing to become one with the victim. Bernard Brady has a strong need to be useful. Bernard Brady has a strong need to be killed.
After going online to discover more outlawed fetish videos, Bernard Brady finds companionship in an chat room for cannibals, asking what wines they would chose if they were going to have him for dinner. He realizes that he will never feel fulfilled unless he is consumed by another person.
When his co-worker is fired for downloading more than just snuff films, Bernard feels that everything in life is temporary. If a trusted employee of 25 years can be fired for a slight transgression, there's no safety anywhere, and after a brief struggle with himself, Bernard Brady sends a video to a cannibal friend online.
"Hello, my name is Bernard Brady, and I want you to eat me." The film closes with an elegant stranger having dinner, and also a fine wine with his dinner.
The film is an intellectual discussion on the justification of sin, treading skillfully between supporting and condemning its own protagonist. Tactful, graceful and witty, director Chris Mangano takes an unpleasant subject and makes it enjoyable for the common viewer. What would normally surprise and offend the audience, delightfully and eerily unfolds in front of the viewer. Told almost entirely in silence, the actors who portray Bernard Brady, both young and old, convey torrents of thought and emotion through the eyes. On top of a strong cast, the film boasts an acute attention to detail. For example, there isn't a shot in the movie where Bernard Brady isn't eating. This constant focus on consumption underlies and foreshadows what's to come, and it's also very funny.
"An Appetite for Bernard Brady" is focused, well thought out, artistic and amusing. It provokes thought, and is an exciting teaser of things yet to come from the talented cast and crew.