Name: Piaffe
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Released: 2023-05-04T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Simone Bucio, Simon(è) Jaikiriuma Paetau, Sebastian Rudolph, Lea Draeger, Josef Ostendorf

The moment Eva’s horsetail first sprouts from her body in Ann Oren’s Piaffe, it’s impossible not to lean in. This surreal, visceral image sets the tone for a film that refuses to be ignored, even if its narrative ambitions ultimately stumble. Oren’s feature debut is a bold blend of drama and fantasy, anchored by Simone Bucio’s mesmerizing performance as Eva, a Foley artist whose life spirals into a hallucinatory exploration of control and identity after her sister Zara’s breakdown.

Piaffe opens not with Eva but with Novak (Sebastian Rudolph), a professor of fernology, creating an immediate sense of disorientation that lingers throughout the film. This choice is both Piaffe‘s greatest strength and its most significant weakness. On one hand, it allows Oren to build an atmosphere of unease and curiosity. The audience is immediately plunged into a world that feels both familiar and unsettlingly alien. On the other hand, this narrative sleight of hand makes it difficult for the film to find its footing. The shift from Novak’s perspective to Eva’s is jarring, and the film struggles to maintain momentum as it tries to balance its surrealist imagery with its dramatic core.

Bucio’s performance is a standout, particularly in the scenes where she navigates her newfound power and the unraveling of her psyche. Her portrayal of Eva is a delicate dance between vulnerability and strength, and Bucio’s ability to convey this duality makes her character compelling even as the narrative around her feels fragmented. The affair with Novak, framed as a game of submission, is charged with eroticism and psychological complexity, thanks in large part to Rudolph’s measured intensity. His performance grounds the film’s more outlandish elements, providing a counterbalance to Bucio’s surreal transformation.

The film’s visual and auditory craftsmanship is undeniable. Oren’s surrealist eye candy—from the grotesque beauty of Eva’s transforming body to the meticulous soundscape of her Foley work—creates an immersive atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll. The use of sound, in particular, is a masterclass in how audio can drive narrative and emotional beats. The Foley sequences are not just background noise but active participants in the storytelling, highlighting Eva’s struggle to create sounds for a commercial featuring a horse.

However, Piaffe struggles to fully integrate its ambitious themes into a cohesive whole. The film’s exploration of control, gender, and artifice is undeniably intriguing, but it often feels like these themes are tacked onto the narrative rather than woven into it. The shift from Eva’s personal journey to broader explorations of these themes feels abrupt at times, and the film’s pacing stumbles as it tries to balance its surrealist imagery with its dramatic core.

The film’s second half, which delves deeper into Eva’s psyche and her relationship with Novak, is where Piaffe finds its most compelling moments. The dynamic between Bucio and Rudolph is electric, and their performances elevate the material even as the narrative struggles to maintain momentum. However, some of the film’s more outlandish elements—like the horsetail itself—feel underutilized. The surreal imagery is striking but often feels disconnected from the emotional core of the story.

Piaffe is a film that demands your attention but doesn’t always reward it with satisfying payoffs. Oren’s direction is ambitious and visually stunning, but the narrative struggles to keep up with its own surrealist aspirations. Bucio and Rudolph deliver powerful performances that anchor the film in moments of genuine emotional resonance, but these moments are too few and far between.

Ultimately, Piaffe is a film that will leave audiences divided. Its surrealist imagery and bold themes make it a fascinating watch, but its narrative fragmentation and pacing issues hold it back from greatness. For viewers who enjoy films that challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of conventional storytelling, Piaffe offers a visceral journey into the depths of the human psyche. However, for those seeking a more cohesive narrative experience, the film’s fragmented structure may prove frustrating.

Piaffe is not a perfect film, but it is undeniably bold and ambitious. Oren’s direction is visually stunning, and Bucio’s performance is a standout. The film’s exploration of control, gender, and artifice is intriguing, even if it feels underdeveloped at times.