PIGS

Yep, pigs! I recently saw the movie simply called Pig (2021) and it is very good. Nicholas Cage, in his best performance in years (maybe ever) plays Robin Feld, a storied Portland Oregon chef who has become a recluse. Robin has an unusual pig which is excellent at finding truffles in the surrounding rain forest. Rob sells the truffles, which are exceedingly valuable to area restaurants, to a semi-sleazy Amir. One night thugs break into Robin’s shack and make off with the pig. He sets off on a quest to find his pig and get it back. This very unusual film has lots of twists and turns and is rarely what you expect. Pig got me thinking of other films about porkers.

Another recent film about pigs is Gunda (2020). Shot in black and white with no dialog, it is the story of a mother pig and her babies, a couple of cows and a one-legged chicken. This film was shot in Norway, Spain and the UK but you won’t need subtitles. It is sui generis, unlike anything else and it is strangely moving. 

One film that immediately springs to mind in this category is the wonderful Babe(1995). James Cromwell plays Arthur Hoggett, the mild manner farmer who wins the pig at a fair. Babe is spared from becoming Christmas dinner when he shows the farmer that he can herd sheep as well as the dog. The sheep help Babe by telling him what to do. Babe is horrified to learn that people actually eat pigs, and he runs away. But all is well as the farmer convinces him he is loved and wanted. The sequel Babe: Pig In The City (1998) is not quite as good (what a surprise!). When farmer Hoggett is seriously injured, can’t work and is about to lose his farm, his wife Esme takes over. She discovers a sheep herding contest that will pay off their debt, and takes Babe with her to try to win it. Lots of adventures follow. 

Though not the title character (the heady spider Charlotte), the hero of the film Charlotte’s Web (2006) is the loveable Wilbur the pig. Saved from slaughter by the famer’s daughter, Wilbur becomes friends with the other farm animals, especially Charlotte, who rescues him from death by spelling on her web “some pig” and “terrific” and this works. Charlotte gives birth to dozens of babies and three of them become new friends with Wilbur. This version is far superior to the 1973 animated version. Stars lined up to provide voicing for this film: Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford and  Kathy Bates.

Animal Farm (1999) is based on George Orwell’s allegorical novel with farm animals portending the Russian revolution. The revolt is led by the pig Old Major and succeeds only to fall apart later. Another who’s who of voices include Kelsey Grammer, Ian Holm, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Patrick Stewart, etc. This is NOT a kid’s movie! This version is much better than  the earlier 1954 version, which was commissioned by the CIA!

All of the films in this article are available on DVD. Right now Gunda is only available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.  All but the last one are fine for all ages.