Synopsis: An overweight teen is bullied by a clique of cool girls poolside while holidaying in her village. The long walk home will change the rest of her life.
Director: Carlotta Pereda
Stars: Laura Galan, Claudia Salas, Pilar Castro
This film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and is now getting its release and it is perfectly timed for an October release.
In the film we meet Sara, played by Laura Galan. Sara works at her family’s butcher shop and tries to keep a low profile. Sara is overweight and is the victim of excessive bullying. She is constantly teased because of her weight and the mean girls she encounters even call her ‘Piggy’. She has had to modify her life as a result of it. She must be careful when she walks down the street, and when she goes to the neighbourhood pool for a swim. The girls she encounters are very cruel and mean. They steal her clothes, and mock her and constantly insult her. She is often in tears and feels there is no reprieve in sight.
Normally you would think that director Carolotta Pereda simply wanted commentary on how we treat people, but they are going deeper. Much deeper.
One day while Sara is waking home, after being bullied, she observes her tormentors being kidnapped. They are placed in a van and driven off against there will. The police are investigating the disappearance and ask Sara if she has seen anything, and she stays quiet.
The film does a great job examining the dilemma that Sara is facing. On the one hand she knows the right thing is to report what she saw to the police, but she also feels that her bullies are getting what they deserve.
This movie is a breath of fresh air, which seems like an odd way to describe a horror, but I love how Sara is constructed to the audience. As an outsider it’s easy to say what she should do but from her point of view, the point of view of someone who was been ridiculed without mercy, the decision isn’t so easy.
Laura Galan’s portrayal of Sara is exceptional. The movie truly hangs on her shoulders. She makes the audience care and feel for her as she is being bullied. I’ve heard this film referred to as feminist horror and I can’t say I disagree. Sara is something of an anti hero and the audience may struggle with the decisions she makes but that’s part of what sets this film apart.
Piggy is a fantastic film that will leave a mark and won’t be soon forgotten.
Grade: B+
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