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

Ann Oren’s Piaffe opens on Novak (Sebastian Rudolph), a professor of fernology, his fascination with botanical minutiae setting the tone for a film that thrives in the intersections of the natural and the unnatural. This is a drama wrapped in fantasy, where the mundane—like creating sound effects for an anti-depressant commercial—collides with the surreal: Eva (Simone Bucio), an introverted Foley artist, sprouts a horsetail from her body.

The film’s strength lies in its sensory detail. The sound design is meticulous, a testament to Oren’s background in visual arts and experimental filmmaking. When Eva struggles to replicate the sound of a horse’s hooves, the silence that follows is deafening, a stark contrast to the intricate audio layers she’s attempting to create. Bucio’s performance is equally nuanced; her portrayal of Eva’s transformation—from timid to empowered—is subtle yet profound. The horsetail isn’t just a physical manifestation but a metaphor for control and liberation.

The affair between Eva and Novak, facilitated by her newfound tail, is where Piaffe truly shines. The power dynamics are palpable, the submission game a dance of dominance and desire. Rudolph’s Novak is equally compelling, his academic detachment clashing with Eva’s burgeoning confidence. Their scenes together crackle with tension, the dialogue sparse but impactful.

However, the film falters in its pacing. At 86 minutes, Piaffe feels rushed, particularly in its exploration of gender and artifice. The themes are ambitious, but they’re not given the time or space to fully unfold. The horsetail’s symbolism is intriguing, but it’s underdeveloped, leaving viewers to connect dots that aren’t explicitly drawn.

The film’s originality is both its greatest asset and its downfall. Oren’s vision is undeniably unique, but Piaffe occasionally feels like it’s trying too hard to be different. The fantasy elements, while visually striking, sometimes overshadow the drama at the film’s core.

In the end, Piaffe is a visceral, thought-provoking experience that doesn’t quite stick the landing.