I saw Bonobo at the Calgary International Film Festival this year as part of the world cinema series and went in knowing very little about the film; I initially just thought the poster was interesting. Oh and it sounded a little bit like Indecent Proposal which I love!
The director was present and informed the audience the film had become "the most controversial picture of the festival" which seemed extreme considering I'd already watched a movie there about dwarf sex.... But after 20 or so minutes of nicely shot and well acted exposition something happened (which I won't spoil) and suddenly I was totally gripped!
Bonobo is actually a really uncomfortable film to watch for the most part, yet really intriguing and almost low key thriller-like at times. It tests an audience by (I thought) splitting opinion. There are two protagonists with different objectives and as the film goes on the attitude of one of them shifts and with it did my own opinion as to which one was in the right. Not that there is necessarily a 'right' as it's all subjective. Ooooh, I really wanna' say what happens but it'll spoil the film, but if you've seen Bonobo then hopefully you get what I mean.
This film won't reach a wide audience and it won't satisfy many people I suspect as it doesn't really wrap itself up neatly but actually forces the viewer to think a little and I guess that's why it was seen as 'controversial'? But if you like films that aren't exactly 'feel-good' nor give you all the answers I'd imagine that like me you'd get a lot from it and feel your time wasn't wasted.
And I was stunned that such a great looking film only cost about $100,000 according to the director.
