The Embalmer

Peppino is a small time taxidermist whose sleazy reputation shadows his workshop. He meets Valerio, a handsome yet somewhat naive younger man who is drawn to the secret world Peppino inhabits. He hires him as an assistant for a generous salary, and what starts as a practical arrangement gradually takes on the feel of a mentor's trust and something more intimate in Peppino's eyes. Valerio later begins a relationship with a girlfriend, complicating the dynamic as Peppino's longing grows. A tense, jealous third presence slides into the frame, testing boundaries, loyalty, and the uneasy mix of affection and possession that underpins their fragile bond.

Released in 2002, The Embalmer is directed by Matteo Garrone from an original screenplay by Massimo Gaudioso and Ugo Chiti. The film trades glossy thrill for a stark, lived-in setting and a restrained style that heightens tension between longing and danger. It received a modest theatrical release in Italy, and it established Garrone as an emerging talent stepping toward his later, more exacting approach.

The Embalmer did not receive major awards or nominations on the festival circuit, though critics noted its disciplined rhythm and the way Garrone frames desire inside a claustrophobic workspace. The lack of trophies underscored the film as a stepping stone in his career.

The film stands out for its unusual subject matter and the way it uses the trade of taxidermy to mirror themes of control and devotion. Even with a limited release, it attracted careful attention from festival audiences and fans of Garrone's early austere sensibility.

Critics praised the restrained tone, the emphasis on character over plot, and the tension between mentorship and romance. It probes power, loneliness, and the moral cost of desire, delivering a precise drama that relies on mood and acting. It signals Garrone's emerging signature.