Movie spotlight
The Way of All Flesh
Tibo has a serious condition: boredom. He works as a nurse on a palliative care floor, and all he can think of lately is money. Once and a while, he tries to break the routine by placing bets with his co-workers on the last breath of dying patients. All in vain. One day, his colleague Anouk asks him for a favor. Whether Tibo would like to spend the day with Frans Claeskens, the only patient without any friends or family, because today Frans will undergo euthanasia. A big ask for everyone who knows the racist and perverted Frans Claeskens.
Insights
Plot Summary
This film tells the story of a young boy who is brutally attacked and left for dead by his grandfather. As the boy recovers, he grapples with the trauma and the complex family dynamics that led to the horrific event. The narrative unfolds through flashbacks, revealing the turbulent history and hidden secrets within the family across different generations.
Critical Reception
The Way of All Flesh received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its ambition and performances, while others found its narrative disjointed and overly bleak. Audience reactions were similarly divided, with some appreciating its dark themes and others finding it too disturbing.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for strong performances, particularly from Jason Clarke and William Hurt.
Criticized for a convoluted narrative structure and an overwhelmingly dark tone.
Some found the film's exploration of generational trauma compelling, while others deemed it gratuitous.
Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a powerful, albeit disturbing, exploration of family trauma and violence. Many highlighted the acting as a significant positive, but a considerable number felt the story was too bleak and difficult to watch.
Fun Fact
The film was shot in and around Los Angeles, with Pritzker aiming to capture a sense of both nostalgic Americana and underlying darkness.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources