Review of Symbol (2009) by Joseph S — 21 Sep 2010
A Japanese man wakes in a bare illuminated white room with no doors. The walls are lined with what look like the penises of Cherubs(the little fat baby angels) protruding from the wall much like the candalabra arms of Coctuea's "Beauty And The Beast". The man discovers that each time he touches one of the penises a random object appears in the room (a racket, chop sticks, an African man who runs through walls, etc). What does this mean? What does this have to do with the story of a professional Mexican wrestler named The Escargot set to return to the ring, though many believe him too old (which is the film's sub-plot)? Vincenzo Natali's "Nothing" filled an unwritten page green screen background world with two roommates who have the mysterious power to negate existence, one wish at a time. Hitoshi Matsumoto's film bares a passing visual semblance to "Nothing", but Matusmoto's world has more inexplicable rules of cause and effect, equal parts Kafka and mad lib. Did I mention this is a slapstick comedy full of fart jokes, cus it's that too, and yet it's so much more. Is "Symbol" a title in irony, a clue to the mysteries of the glorious All-Penis and it's great lazer light show from beyond. You be the judge.
More later...
This review of Symbol (2009) was written by Joseph S on 21 Sep 2010.
Symbol has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
