In a nutshell, well-off Greek parents are trying to raise their children — a 20-something son and two teenage daughters — in complete quarantine from the outside world inside their walled-in homestead. The kids display a naivete so complete that any stimulation from the outside world can have explosive consequences.
Dad brings home a female security guard from the plant he owns to sexually service his son. Soon bizarre ideas about sex, including acting them out, are spreading among the youngsters. They come to think licking each other is an appropriate way to show affection. Then oldest daughter forces the security guard to cough up some VHS cassettes she carries around.
Soon, oldest daughter is quoting lines of dialogue from "Rocky" and "Jaws" (and, hilariously, performing shark attacks on her brother in their pool). Finally, in a jaw dropping dance performed in front of their parents to celebrate their anniversary, while brother plays classical guitar, she does the "Maniac" dance from "Flashdance." This has to be seen to be believed.
This is all done utterly deadpan. Should we be laughing? Maybe not.
I know this review makes the movie sound shallower than it is. I just want to intrigue Americans who otherwise would shun something like this.
Along the way, there are pointed references to totalitarian politics and religious extremism. I am certain North Korea and what has been going on there was an inspiration. If you watch it, don't try to figure it out (though, there's plenty of that on the IMDb discussion boards). Just let it wash over you.
You will not have seen anything like it before.
Dad brings home a female security guard from the plant he owns to sexually service his son. Soon bizarre ideas about sex, including acting them out, are spreading among the youngsters. They come to think licking each other is an appropriate way to show affection. Then oldest daughter forces the security guard to cough up some VHS cassettes she carries around.
Soon, oldest daughter is quoting lines of dialogue from "Rocky" and "Jaws" (and, hilariously, performing shark attacks on her brother in their pool). Finally, in a jaw dropping dance performed in front of their parents to celebrate their anniversary, while brother plays classical guitar, she does the "Maniac" dance from "Flashdance." This has to be seen to be believed.
This is all done utterly deadpan. Should we be laughing? Maybe not.
I know this review makes the movie sound shallower than it is. I just want to intrigue Americans who otherwise would shun something like this.
Along the way, there are pointed references to totalitarian politics and religious extremism. I am certain North Korea and what has been going on there was an inspiration. If you watch it, don't try to figure it out (though, there's plenty of that on the IMDb discussion boards). Just let it wash over you.
You will not have seen anything like it before.