Raw Emotions: A Deep Dive into ‘Meat’ at Thessaloniki

Toxic families may be a tale as old as time—after all, who hasn’t spent a Sunday dinner contemplating escape routes? But in the hands of writer/director Dimitris Nakos, this age-old theme gains a fresh twist, spiced up by the colorful gossip of small-town life in his modern Greek tragedy, "Meat." With a confident pace that suggests he knows exactly what he’s doing—until he doesn’t—Nakos attempts to whip up a potent brew of drama with shaky handheld camerawork and high-octane interactions. One might say the camerawork has a hyperactive enthusiasm that risks leaving viewers a bit dizzy, akin to a rollercoaster ride that started out thrilling but veered into the territory of ‘Who thought this was a good idea?!’

This film recently strutted its stuff at the Thessaloniki Film Festival’s Agora works in progress section and has since sashayed into the International Competition after its world premiere in Toronto. Soon, dear Greece will be treated to its distribution by Feelgood Entertainment, although distributing it elsewhere could pose a challenge—after all, how do you market a film steeped in family drama when every family has its own skeletons, or should we say, meat in the closet?

Meet Takis (Akyllas Karazisis), a middle-aged butcher filled with optimistic zest, ready to unveil his long-closed shop. Not even a loud, animated cursing match with his ex-con neighbor (Dimitris Xanthopoulos) about some tiresome land dispute can cast a shadow on his big moment. Takis and his wife Eleni (Maria Kallimani) are riding high on positivity, convinced that the reopening of the butcher shop is just the cherry on top of their already sweet life. After all, luck seems routinely to flow their way, especially since Takis has no qualms about greasing the local cop’s (Giorgos Symeonidis) palm to keep the illegal slaughterhouse running smoothly out back.

But let's not kid ourselves—Takis is not exactly a fan of fools. Presenting Exhibit A: his son Pavlos (Pavlos Iordanopoulos), whom Takis regards as lazy, especially in light of the hard-working Christos (Kostas Nikouli), an Albanian who has ingratiated himself as part of the family. Oh, the irony! On opening night, this delicate family dynamic shatters when an unforgivable crime is committed, and the fallout threatens to tear them apart from the inside out. Nakos showcases his particular flair for family dynamics, allowing Pavlos’ brooding silently to speak louder than any spat could.

The mother’s protective instincts flare up against her husband’s dismissive attitude towards their son, supported by visual cues of Pavlos being stuck in childhood—just take a glance at his bedroom curtains, adorned with images of football players still frolicking in his playground of youth! Meanwhile, Christos appears to be on the outskirts of this familial swirl—his only maternal connection a distant voice through a phone. For him, Takis and company represent opportunity, while his girlfriend is practically itching to escape to the city, her own siren song drowning out the town’s allure.

Yet, gratitude might not be a ticket to salvation for Christos, as the question of whether blood runs thicker than water looms ominously over the unfolding disaster. As Nakos artfully peels back the layers of the family’s place in the tapestry of the community, the suffocating whispers of prejudice and guilt race through the town like wildfire. The community Takis once perceived as complacent sheep transforms under his scrutiny; it’s less about herding and more about evading circling wolves ready to feast on his misfortunes.

This isn’t merely a power play; it’s a commentary on money as a corrupt force, smothering any vestiges of morality. While the handheld camera adds a jolt of energy to their spirited quarrels, its frantic style often leaves viewers grasping for stability. The misadventures behind the lens can only go so far, but thankfully, an evocative score offers a pleasant remedy—Konstantinos Pistiolis uses folk instruments like bagpipes and the lavta to sprinkle in bursts of intensity that don’t induce nausea.

When the camera finally takes a much-needed breather, the actors step up, delivering performances that could put any butcher’s finest cut to shame—especially Nikouli and Iordanopoulos, who bring an exhilarating tension to their complex friendship and rivalry. With twists and turns no one saw coming, "Meat" is a feast for those already familiar with the messy complexity of family life, leaving behind the tasteless leftovers of pretension.

Production companies: Fantasia Ltd

International sales: Fantasia Filmworks

Producers: Thanos Anastopoulos

Cinematography: Giorgos Valsamis

Production design: Kyriaki Tsitsa

Editing: Lampis Haralampidis

Music: Konstantinos Pistiolis

Main cast: Akyllas Karazisis, Kostas Nikouli, Pavlos Iordanopoulos, Maria Kallimani, Yorgos Simeonidis, Natalia Swift, Dimitris Xanthopoulos