Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: FLUX GOURMET [Berlinale 2022]
The aspect of art as a state of being is sometimes seen as a construct. With "Flux Gourmet" [Encounters], director Peter Strickland plays an interesting game of ego versus achievement. Different groups originally vie to be selected for an art collective workshop but oddly enough and in a wonderfully ironic twist, the movie is seen through a Greek writer (played by Makis Papadimitriou) who is plagued by gastrointestinal distress and yet has to get to crux of what this sonic catering band led by Elle (Fatma Mohamed) is trying to do. The band itself made up of Asa Butterfield (looking completely different) and Ariane Labed (who is also the wife of Yorgos Lanthimos). Their integration is interesting because of the various states of relationships that have existed between them all at some time or another. The idea of food, cutting and vegetables making sounds while not getting into the why or how of it creates a splattering perspective which is not really horror but is just weird while being moderately heartening.
Labed fares the best because you can see her frustration and Mohamed plays Elle with just the right pitch that one understands her reasoning for things but also that she goes far enough for her "art". The gastrointestinal problems of the Greek Writer become part of the pantheon which parallels the actual story. The film is played directly but also has elements of farce which is nicely embodied by the benefactor per se in Gwendoline Christie. Her character moderates in her own self worth and work but is also actually very on point in where collaboration and her workshops should go. One sequence plays to a disgusting perspective but the fact that Christie's character is let down that it didn't go as far as it should is a very dynamic motion and reasoning. This is also relevant in her parallel actions to, in a way, subvert the other members of the band (which makes the art better). All the while there is an unseen band of rejected artists attacking the compound. One off-shot sequences involving catsuits is a bit of fun though again played for farce (there is a would be ode to "The Shining" which is done quite subtly). The final resolution makes sense in terms of its metaphor though its perspective of real world relevance is a little lost. However "Flux Gourmet" is a perspective of gastrointestinal apocalypse but one that wears its stomach on its sleeve. B
By Tim Wassberg
