Starring: Christopher Abbott, Mia Wasikowski, Laia Costa
Distributor: Rialto Films
Runtime: 81 mins. Reviewed in Jan 2019
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Piercing is an 80 minute two-hander generally confined to rooms, there are some scenes in a car and at a hospital. It is based on a Japanese novel, adapted to the United States. The author of the novel, Ryu Murakami, has written a number of novels and directed some film versions, including Audition.
This is not exactly an enjoyable drama. Rather, it is a specialist film for arthouse/festival audiences.
In fact, with its confinement, it might have had more effect had it been a theatre piece in a small theatrical space. On the big screen, it seems somewhat extended, melodramatic in its realism, and some prurient fantasies.
The central character, Reed, played by Christopher Abbott with some intensity, is seen initially with a weapon and holding his baby. However, he loves his wife and his child, contacting her throughout the drama. However, there is something strange about him, his look and his demeanour.
He books into a hotel for a rendezvous with an escort, and there is a quite elaborate scene where he mimes in great detail how we will deal with the woman, meeting, undressing, tying her up, violence. It emerges later in the phone call that his wife has encouraged him in this enterprise.
The film then makes a transition to the prostitute, Jackie, Mia Wasikowska, waking up, demands made on her for money, her going to the appointment, the awkwardness of meeting with Reed, his nervous reaction, her responding negatively, going to have a shower, his concern, then discovering that she was stabbing herself in her leg. His careful plan has gone completely awry.
Which makes the audience wonder where this drama will go. There is a hospital interlude, going back to Jackie’s flat, a drama where she turns the table on Reed, he reacts, she gets free – and questions about sexual behaviour, fantasies, sado-masochism, blood, control and consent…
The film stops, leaving the ending open for the audience to speculate about what will happen in the future of each of the characters.
At beginning and end, there are extensive crane shots of the facades of apartment blocks, stylised, the filming of miniatures.
Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.
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