The Embalmer (2002)

A solitary embalmer meets a charming and unemployed waiter who becomes his assistant, but the two get involved in a morbid and unhealthy professional and personal relationship.

Director:

Matteo Garrone

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo, Elisabetta Rocchetti

16 wins & 20 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
Marcella Granito	...	Manuela
Giuseppe Arena	...	Workshop's Owner (as Beppe Arena)
Bernardino Terracciano	...	Boss
Rosario J. Gnolo	...	Entrepreneur
Vincenzo Puocci	...	Gangbanger #1
Renato Puocci	...	Gangbanger #2
Valentino Puocci	...	Gangbanger #3
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:

disturbing | mechanic | prostitute | nudity | drag queen | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie is loosely based on a true fact, the murder of taxidermist Domenico Semeraro by his protege in 1990.

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Soundtracks

Mad Samoan
Written by Francesco Lopresti
Performed by Bradipos Four
Courtesy of the author

User Reviews

A marginalised fairytale

A story of haunted people from haunted places that doesn't end well. Loosely based on a true story, this is movie is a more of a grim fairytale in which the characters are marginalised people who live in squalor. Definitely not a feel-good movie but worth watching.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Italy]

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 USA:

$10,313, 20 July 2003

Gross USA:

$56,878

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$384,336

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39:1