WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Pig, now in theaters.
Nicolas Cage's Pig finds the action star delving deep into a story about grief, far away from guns, explosions and chaos, as he portrays a Portland chef, Rob, who turned into a recluse. His life is upended when junkies steal the pig he's been keeping as a companion years after his wife, Lori, died, which helped him cope.
Eventually, Rob gains closure, however, there are a few unanswered questions come the end of the film.
The circumstances over Lori's death are never revealed, but it's clear that she helped him in the business. In the mausoleum where her crypt is, there's even wine stored and a spot reserved for Rob next to her, but the lady in charge never divulges what happened. All that's confirmed is Rob's got a cassette of her singing Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" for his birthday.
We know Rob went into a cabin in the woods after Lori died, but we never discover how he got the pig, why he selected this animal or if it found him, and how it could also sniff out truffles. It's implied that it had training, but Rob himself can sense the truffles based on the trees in the area, so there are many questions over their dynamic as they were hidden away. It'd be interesting to know why truffles stood out, and if it was Lori's favorite item.
Amir tells Rob that his mother took her own life as she was unhappy with his dad, Darius, but Amir is seen at a hospital where she's on life support, asking why his father won't let her die. Yet we never find out how she attempted this, or why the dad's keeping her alive. Part could be hatred due to their resentful marriage, or he might have had a hand in it, or maybe he couldn't let go after her act.
Darius hired the hooligans to steal it after Amir mentioned the pig's talent, as he did business with Rob, collecting truffles to sell. It could be that Darius was angry that Amir treaded on his business territory as he wanted the kid to forge his own path. Or it may be that he hated Rob for giving him one happy dinner with his wife before she 'died.' Either way, it seems extreme.
It's never confirmed whether it's because he sees the boy as incompetent in business, if he just truly hates the kid, or if Darius sees his wife in Amir. What's for sure is he can't stand to be around him, making condescending quips and being pessimistic of Amir's future, while even refusing to eat with his son.
Rob decides to make the same meal for Darius that he enjoyed with his wife as he remembers everything he cooked and for whom. He gets baguettes from a bakery, but we don't know who the woman is who's running the bakery. She and Rob have a close bond so she might be related to him or Lori, or possibly just an old friend. He mentions that she no longer has curtains, like Lori advised, so it may be a business partner or employee who got and turned their restaurant into a bakery when both departed.
After a cathartic dinner that breaks Darius, he confesses that the junkies he hired mishandled the pig during the kidnapping. The animal died, which destroys Rob. But Darius isn't trustworthy and he may have lied to get Rob off his back, still wanting to keep the pig as revenge.
But there's a darker theory: he cooked it out of malice. It's interesting that he didn't let Rob know the pig died earlier as Rob could have plotted to assault Darius rather than cook for him since he'd still be on the revenge path in search of his pig, thinking it was still alive.
We never see the father fully heal with his boy after this exchange where Rob learns the truth. Instead, as Amir and Rob part ways after dining at a tavern, Amir is in his car lying down. We can see Darius taking time to adjust to being vulnerable but we're not sure how Amir has processed the dinner and his father's supposed guilt of killing the one thing Rob loves.
Before Amir got in his car, Rob did say he'd see him next Thursday, implying that Amir will be back up to his cottage. Amir's relieved but we never find out if it's for business/truffles, or if it's to bond as official friends after their intimate journey. Rob might need a buddy with the pig gone, while Amir may enjoy Rob as a father-figure due to his wisdom and care.
See Nicolas Cage's dramatic turn in Pig, now playing in limited theatrical release and available on VOD.
0 Comments