Bullhead is one of those movies you want to talk about and share with the world but when you open your mouth you find you have no way to describe it. It’s as if Raging Bull had a threesome with the Sopranos and Pumping Iron. This is a Belgian film that on the surface stars Jacky a juiced up roided up cattle farmer who supports his family by selling his cattle that have been injected with illegal growth hormones ( the same kind he injects into himself) as part of the underground hormone bovine mafia (Real talk this was an actual group in the 90’s). The movie starts with a picture of a clear field and Jacky stating,
“Sometimes in a man’s life stuff happens that makes everyone go quiet. So quiet that no one even dares talk about it. Not to anyone, not even to themselves. Not in their head and not out loud. Not a fucking word. Cos everything somehow got stuck, No matter how long ago it was, there will always be someone to bring it all back. Because no matter what you do or think, one thing is for sure, you’re always fucked now, tomorrow, next week or next year, until the end of time, fucked.”
We then see Jacky, stark naked, sweating and shadow boxing intercut with him injecting himself full of hormones. The movie takes us on a ride where Jacky as the enforcer in the family cattle business meets with mafia types and makes deals. On such a meeting he meets up with Diederik a childhood friend that leads to flashbacks of his youth that show the tragic events that have lead him to this lifestyle, alone with cattle, mobsters, and ducking cops… surrounded by animals.
It’s in the silence that the movie really grips you, Jacky shadow boxing with the past events of his tragic youth. The pent up frustration that builds up so much and comes out with quick face smacks or head buts to family member (you should see what he does to guys that he doesn’t like or cock block him). The fact is he’s lonely and unable to connect to anyone. The life that he should have had was taken from him. Because of his size and steroid rage people are rightfully scared of him. In the last 20 minutes of the film you realize how much him and the cattle he’s spent his life birthing, raising and eventually leading to slaughter have in common. Choice was taken away from them.
If I had to guess what will be the biggest meat head movie of 2013 or most quoted at the gym will be… no brainer
Proud, as a Belgian, that this movie gets picked up. Really cool film. How did you came in contact with this movie?
I have a thing for movies.
I see what you did there. It was an amazing movie. I was expecting a crime drama that was more central to a mob in the prototypical sense, but it was better.
What happens to him is pretty tragic indeed. Very good film.
You ever get into any Brazilian flicks VK? Brazil has a movie industry which has produced some great pieces in the past couple of decades. One of the great things about it is that the vast majority are independent type of movies, there is not a Hollywood or Bollywood down there, they come from all over the country.