Pig is a poignant and moving film with a vague but empathetic protagonist, a perfectly paced plot and a timely and resonant theme. It might be the best film I’ve seen this year, better than Censor even.

Nicolas Cage plays a reclusive truffle hunter living in an Oregonian forest, a pig being his only companion. When faceless thieves steal the pig, the recluse is forced to leave his peaceful home and venture out into Portland to find his pig’s kidnappers.

The Characters

Pig is in most part a character study of Cage’s truffle hunter. The only other principle character is Amir (Alex Wolff), a businessman who buys Cage’s truffles. It can be argued that his arc mirrors Cage’s in certain ways however that’s quite a subjective matter because, like Cage’s character, the film can be vague. There are many gaps in the story that you’re left to speculate on. Fortunately there’s enough of a story to follow and invest in. In that respect, it’s the best kind of arthouse.

While Cage is certainly the protagonist, we know very little about him at the beginning. We have no idea why he’s living alone in the woods with a pig. However, as he and Amir search for his pig’s kidnappers, we begin to learn about his past bit by bit. Amir’s character acts as our surrogate as he himself doesn’t know who Cage is, hence we learn with him as the plot progresses.

We meet characters who turn out to be old acquaintances of Cage, thereby learning another thing about his character. The mystery does keep you engaged but that’s not to say that the plot that unfolds with every revelation is not compelling. Without getting into spoilers, the reasons why Cage retreated into the woods are ones we understand and empathize with.

By the midpoint you know and love Cage’s protagonist, you’re on his side and are legitimately nervous about where he’ll be by the end. He, Amir and the rest of the cast are beautifully written.

The Themes

Like the symmetry of Cage and Amir’s arcs, what Pig is about thematically is subjective however, having seen other reviews and analyses of the film, I think I can offer a brief overview of Pig’s overall message. It is a moving and timely one I believe.

Pig is about loss and our struggle to endure it in the modern world, where we are constantly pressured to do what we have to rather than what we want to. As a consequence we become detached from ourselves and emotionally shut out, making us almost incapable of processing grief. Whether or not Pig offers a solution to this would take us right into spoilers, which I’ll avoid.

Overall, the viewing experience that Pig offers is a beautiful one. The characters keep you engaged all the way through and help deliver the film’s true gut-punch of a message, one that should resonate with most adults in the current climate. Contrary to what you’d think from the trailer, the film features very little violence hence I’d happily recommend it to everyone.

I can’t remember the last time I give a film this rating but I give Pig an amazing 10 out of 10.