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I actually found out about this short film through a review for The Platform, and how the concept was "stolen" from this short. I was intrigued to find it and check it out.

I honestly really enjoyed Next Floor, compared to The Platform, which honestly just upset and disturbed me rather than entertaining me and sending some important message.

I'm absolutely not bashing anyone who enjoyed The Platform, but I genuinely couldn't stomach it, and so having an alternative like Next Floor, which is a lot less disturbing and depressing, while being more comedic, was definitely for me.

Anyway, this film was really good and well produced, not to mention being a lot shorter than a full-length movie (although I feel like a full movie of this wouldn't be all that bad)

A group of well-dressed wealthy people consume and consume in this absurd and brilliant short by director Denis Villeneuve. Their gluttony knows no end and despite the fact that the sheer weight of their banquet is enough to break through the floor and land them on the next lowest floor they cannot stop consuming, consuming, consuming.

A brilliant parable on greed and also on our natural resources (this really feels like a poignant statement on climate change, even though we know it will literally kill us it seems like humans can't get it together to stop hurting the planet), this is an incredibly well made short that shows what a genius Villeneuve is and hints at the masterworks in his future.

It reminds Fellini, Pasolini, Franz Kafka and, especially Bunuel. It seems be a portrait of gluttony ; in essence bitter critic against consumerism. Well crafted, floor by floor, it is a real gem first for a sort of Baroc exuberance of excess, second for the precise photography of decadence, not the last for the precise message of end of an age and , finally, because you feel the flavour of death in the second half.Eleven people front to grotesque dishes . Eating. And eating. And eating. And the circle of servants , musicians and their eyes , steps , run, reaction in the last scene. Just a gem. So, so familiar...

"Next Floor" is a short film directed by Denis Villeneuve and released in 2008. It is a darkly comedic and surreal allegory that "Next Floor" is a thought-provoking short film that uses its surreal and allegorical narrative to shed light on issues of consumerism, excess, and societal decay. It challenges viewers to reflect on the consequences of unchecked desires and the need for more sustainable and conscientious lifestyles.

The film takes place in a lavish banquet hall where an extravagant feast is being held. The guests, dressed in formal attire, sit around a long table that is laden with an abundance of food. However, as the feast progresses, it becomes apparent that the guests have an insatiable appetite. They devour food with reckless abandon, indulging in gluttony and excess.

As the feast continues, the table begins to collapse under the weight of the guests and the food. The floor also starts to give way, symbolizing the precarious nature of their excessive lifestyle. Despite the impending danger, the guests continue to eat, seemingly oblivious to the consequences.

The significance of "Next Floor" lies in its allegorical portrayal of societal issues. The film serves as a critique of modern consumer culture and the relentless pursuit of materialistic pleasures. It highlights the destructive nature of excess and the insatiable appetite for more, drawing parallels to the unsustainable practices of our own society.

Through its surreal and exaggerated imagery, "Next Floor" also suggests the cyclical nature of human behavior. The guests' repetitive and mindless consumption mirrors the endless cycle of desire and fulfillment that characterizes consumerism. It raises questions about the emptiness and futility of pursuing endless materialistic gratification.

Furthermore, the film's setting, with its opulence and extravagance, can be seen as a metaphor for the upper class or the elite. It presents a scathing critique of their excesses and their disconnection from the consequences of their actions.

Overall, "Next Floor" is a thought-provoking short film that uses its surreal and allegorical narrative to shed light on issues of consumerism, excess, and societal decay. It challenges viewers to reflect on the consequences of unchecked desires and the need for more sustainable and conscientious lifestyles.

Next Floor (2008)

*** (out of 4)

Strange but effective short about some grotesque people sitting around a table eating some rather grotesque things while some servants look on. As soon as the people eat a certain amount they, with the table, go falling to the next floor where they're fed even more until they fall through the floor yet again. That's pretty much everything that happens for 11-minutes and you'd think that it might get boring after a while but it actually never does. Instead this is an extremely well-made and rather intelligent film that contains some superb cinematography. The images on the screen are rather ugly as I'm sure most vegetarians will pass out before the movie is over with. What makes the images so effective is the great cinematography but also the terrific editing, which puts you right in the middle of the table and you'll really feel as if you're there looking at and smelling all this food. Director Villeneuve has created a rather unique little gem that is well worth watching as it's both funny and disturbing.