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| Review by Benn Robbins |
It is based on the novel of the same name by UK born and German raised author, Charlotte Roche. It is a semi-biographical tale that, on the surface, is about a girl with some serious emotional issues, and who is obsessed with cleanliness, that after a horrible shaving mishap, winds up in a hospital.
The film starts off simply enough. A girl coming to terms with her body and deals with deep rooted problems, and an obsession about hygiene, that began with her childhood. Slowly, it spirals into madness and confusion.
What this film becomes, is a very odd but sweet tale about the mishaps of life, and how a simple, singular event in one’s youth can slowly unravel your very existence.
This film is not for the weak stomached and easily offended.
As I stated before, it is graphic and unabashedly depicts sexual acts such as auto-erotica and masturbation with vegetables. It also doesn’t shy away for some pretty graphic visual acts from disgusting bathrooms, to shit fantasies, to people defiling pizza with bodily fluids.
What truly saves this film from being dumped, in my opinion, into the stereotypical shock-for-shock value category film is the main character, Helen, who is wonderfully portrayed by Swiss actress, Carla Juri. Juri brings a naivety and innocence to a very brash and uncouth young woman. The very juxtaposition of her, what her character does, and how she does it is extremely important to the story and it would not have worked, in my opinion, any other way.
Director and co-writer, David Wnendt, brings a visual style and unflinching eye to the film that highlights the sweet right along side the bitter sides of the story. sometimes at the same time.
I can see why this film never got a true release in the US and only made the film festival circuits. In this vanilla, homogenized, easily offended country, there is no way this film gets a fair shot.
It wasn’t easy to watch at times, but I think it was important to watch.
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