A Butcher’s Heart

Marijn FRANK
  • The Netherlands
  • 2017
  • 15min
  • ProRes422
  • Color
  • Asian Premiere
Docs Family

Synopsis

13-year-old Wessel faces a dilemma: will he become a butcher, like his tough father and grandfather or does he prefer to work with live animals?

Director

  • Marijn FRANK
    Need for Meat (2015)
    Bente’s Voice (2012)
    Daddy Has Gone and Left Me Puzzled (2007)

Review

In Korea, butchers used to be treated with contempt, but the situation in Europe (where meat is a staple) has been different. Butchery is a profession that requires highly delicate skills in both the West and East. In Korea, the soaring meat consumption means that butchers are no longer despised. Because butchery always involves death, it is subjected to society’s gaze. As long as people eat meat, animals must die and someone has to control and execute death to that end. This is why Wessel, a young boy from a family of butchers, takes pride in his family business. He has already begun to learn butchery from his grandfather. But as he becomes interested in looking after animals, he runs into a dilemma. His concerns reflect those of people all around the world who contemplate environmental issues and the right to life but still consume meat. He looks dead serious as he slaughters a rabbit that he is raised. Yet, his expressionless face seems to convey complex emotions that he cannot describe. Our facial expressions as we observe him cannot be much different. [KIM Sukyun]

Credits

  • PRODUCER  Fabie HULSEBOS, Suzanne RAES
  • CINEMATOGRAPY  Victor HORSTINK
  • CINEMATOGRAPY  Riekje ZIENGS
  • SOUND  Alex BOOY

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