Disco Pigs

There's a large psychiatric literature on the "twinning effect," which is often a beautiful thing, but in its pathologic manifestation shows up as what's called "symbiotic psychosis." In plain language, although not biological twins, the two main characters here grew up so closely intertwined that their private world disallowed the intrusion of mundane reality. "Private language" is often a characteristic of this clinical syndrome, and in the movie the heavy Cork dialect accentuated (at least for non-Irish) the barrier between the characters and the viewer. Does anyone remember Melanie's song, "We were so close, there was no room/ We bled inside each other's wounds"? Quite apropos. Also, I felt reflections of "David & Lisa," but updated and sort of run in reverse. As with much Irish literature, one has to be prepared for a view of humanity that never crawls out from under Original Sin, but nevertheless this is a serious work, very much worth watching, and deserved a better title.

Its amazing how some of the comments here have completely missed the point of this film. If you haven't seen it yet, I should warn that these comments may give away some plot points.

The facile answers that one user suggest this film offers to the question of "what is love?" don't really deserve aknowledgement. But lets do so anyway.

It would be hard to find a more poignant and complex depiction of the strive for 'pure' love in the face of an ever intruding reality. Pig's love for Runt is the one thing that is whole and real in his life. Yet life, and the fact of their growing up, is slowly taking her away from him. Without her, he himself has no real existence. Therefore his love takes on a growing desperation as he feels her slip away from him.

A commenter questions why runt never "takes to" Pig. Why she is attracted to the bartender.

The point of the film is that she can live in and relate to an outer world beyond her relationship with Pig, while Pig cannot. This world is represented by the barman she dances with, by the roomate she slowly begins to open up to. It is this ability that enables her to survive whilst Pig is spiralling into an ever more violent self-destruction. She loves Pig but realises that the insulated world thay have cocooned themselves within must fall apart. She ultimately saves him from a world that he cannot live in and that she knows he must.

The real triumph of this film is how it completely trancends its stage bound roots. The action is opened out and incorporates a range of characters which, if never fully rounded, likewise are never mere cliches. There is in fact only one speech lifted directly from the play, where Pig expresses his growing frustration as sexuality begins to enter their relationship. The ending soliloquay which one commenter feels betrayed the stage origins was in fact completely new to the film, and indeed the ending itself is completely rewritten.

The direction of this film is lively and interesting. Veering between the hyper-kinetic disco scenes and the peaceful fairy tale world of Pig and Runt's fantasies without jarring. It manages to take Pig on a road trip without ever losing pace and leaves us with a truly heartwrenching scene of sacrifice and beauty.

This is the future of Irish cinema; fresh, exciting directors and a depiction of Ireland that manages to be both free from stereotypical depictions of Irishness whilst maintaining a distinct storytelling style. Go see it.

When I saw this movie for the first time, I liked it a lot, but was still on the fence of "greatness". Lots of good things happened but I wasn't sure if it added up to a full meal of a film.

HOW WRONG I WAS.

I still had questions and popped it back in the next day and I can honestly say that this is the most romantic and touching film I have seen. Ever.

Yes its horrible, ugly, violent, brutal and painful to watch at many points but here is why it hit me like wrecking ball.

The story sets the two leads as friends of the highest caliber, being so close that a sort of hazy psychic bond has formed (although I like to think they don't really seem to notice/care, it just is). They in actuality are two halves of the same person, Pig being the voice, strength, and ego of the person. Runt is the other half consisting of the thought, rational and id. When they become separated, the calmer thinker deals better with others than the brash speaker. I feel that these points are clearly brought forth in the liquor store scenes where Runt literally calls him off the poor clerk, yet until Pig went too far, she was smiling at and enjoying the brutal scene. When something this unifying clashes with puberty, sexuality, society, coming-of-age, and separation they act out only as a person can. Neither of them are acting crazy or differently. This is all they know.

Other comments are very wrong when they say that Runt has feelings for the bartender or her roommate. Her feelings of love and devotion to Pig are always there, NEVER wavering for a moment. But shes learned to cope with the world should it become an issue to them, where as Pig has not.

Were I to be in the same relationship with someone that was that deep, that intense, I know that I would not hesitate to do anything Pig did. I dont believe in violence in any way shape or form either, I just know that what they have isn't temporary of fleeting. Hes not fighting to hurt people, he is literally fighting for his life. This depth of this notion of love is shockingly brilliant and really impressed me.

The end is the only sort of ending that could happen. Their love has become something so passionate and uncontrollable that it cant work in our world. No one would understand.

Personally, I don't understand why people have said this movie is so bad. It is fair to say that maybe sometimes the things Pig (Cillian Murphy) says are a bit much and put a downside on the movie but I've heard much worse in other, highly rated, movies. The storyline itself is a simple yet interesting and well thought out one which has a fantastic ending. If you do begin to watch this movie and dislike it it is still worth watching to the end and may perhaps change your view of it a little. This is the kind of movie people will usually either love or hate. Some will find it horrible and others will find it somewhat romantic and very good. Rather than reading comments that slate it and taking that view yourself you should definitely watch it and make your own mind up.

A film that creates a fine line between sweet and scary, 'Disco Pigs' takes you on a strange journey into a private little fairy tale world of two people who've never been separated who create chaos for everyone around them where ever they go until they're separated by their parents and school. However when reunited they find themselves drifting apart as one's behavior moves from the playfully anti-social to the dangerously psychotic.

Great performances by some of Irelands great new talents.

This films an interesting watch, as it seems to create a new genre: Romantic Thriller.

7.5/10