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Any piece of art about topics which are dear to a majority of human beings is bound to arouse radical reactions from people.Eating of food especially gluttony is something which would be censured by most of us as it goes against the basic principles of humanity.Canadian director Denis Villeneuve's short film "Next Floor" depicts a binge eating session which reveals how gluttony brings out the animal character of human beings.It is a film which has the capacity to shock viewers to the extreme.What can disturb the viewers most is the manner in which the entire act of gluttony is filmed.It is often said that cooking of food is an art.However,this notion turns out be false as Denis Villeneuve shows that eating of food especially gourmet food is a more expensive art which can be afforded by only selected people in the world.In a world where a vast majority of people do not get a chance to properly eat their three meals on a daily basis,a film like "Next Floor" is a grim reminder of challenges which lay before leaders of the world to provide enough food to all the hungry people.

"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.

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 (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.

Make your conclusions about whatever the film is trying to say, though it seems impossible to imagine the filmmakers didn't have in mind some kind of depiction of the sin of "gluttony" in Hell. Watch instead for the great sound design, where floors creak, mouths crunch, smack, and gobble rich meals, and cutlery clanks and clacks like a knight's armor.

The film is creepy but also tongue in cheek, with a hilariously hyperbolic string-instrument riff that plays each time the eaters fall from one floor to the next (I've heard it before and so have you... at first I thought it was from a YouTube meme but I can't find the name).

Still, by short's end, this one will have revolted, shocked, and thoroughly freaked you out in a lingering, psychological sort of way. Some great VFX work in this one too. It's free on Vimeo, only 10 minutes long. Go watch it now!