Bullhead

About the film

One of the best films I have ever seen, is what the American action director, Michael Mann, said about 'Bullhead', which was in the running for an Oscar earlier this year. 'Bullhead' is a dark, inescapable and totally original film, a mafia thriller, an intense character study and a disturbing tragedy. And there is even room for humour in the shape of two petty criminals, who are normally just mechanics. Matthias Schoenaert gives us a frighteningly good and savage performance in the title role, as the steroid-addicted Jacky, who works as an assistant at his family's cattle farm. His brother-in-law breeds animals with illegal growth hormones, which are supplied by shady figures from the local mafia. Jacky has therefore easy access to testosterone drugs and anabolic steroids, which he downs in great quantities. It is only halfway through the film that we, in a flashback to a terrible event in his childhood, are given an explanation for Jacky's addiction, solitude and pent-up anger. When a policeman, who is investigating the illegal market, is murdered, Jacky tries to get away from the criminal milieu. He is now forced to return to the childhood event, which destroyed him and the people who were present at the time. This also includes his childhood friend Lucia, whom he still has a heartbreaking crush on.

The film is shown in collaboration with Cinemateket.