“Gummo,” directed by Harmony Korine and released in 1997, is a controversial and surreal exploration of a decaying, post-disaster small town in Ohio. The film captures a series of vignettes that provide glimpses into the lives of various eccentric and marginalized characters, painting a raw and disturbing portrait of a community grappling with the aftermath of a tornado.
The narrative unfolds without a traditional plot, presenting a disjointed series of scenes and character studies. At the film’s center are two teenage boys, Solomon (Jacob Reynolds) and Tummler (Nick Sutton), who wander through the desolate town, engaging in bizarre and often disturbing activities. The film’s title, “Gummo,” refers to a cat-killing game played by the two boys.
The characters introduced in Gummo include Bunny Boy (Jacob Sewell), who wears pink bunny ears and is obsessed with collecting old newspapers; Dot (Chloe Sevigny), a young woman with a troubled family history; and Pinky (Max Perlich), a cat-killing enthusiast with a mullet. Each character’s story is a glimpse into life’s surreal and bleak reality in the aftermath of the disaster.
The film is marked by its unconventional and experimental style, utilizing handheld cameras, non-professional actors, and a fragmented narrative structure. The use of haunting images, bizarre dialogues, and a non-linear narrative challenges traditional storytelling norms, leaving the audience to piece together the emotional and psychological landscape of the characters.
Gummo is a divisive film known for its unflinching depiction of poverty, dysfunction, and eccentricity.
The Other Cinema 