«The Red Phallus»

Fribourg International Film Festival - Amélie Wauthier

Sangay is a 16-year-old Bhutanese girl who lives alone with her father. The latter carves wooden phalluses, a kind of talisman supposed to ward off evil spirits, and works hard while his daughter seems to find no meaning in her life. Introverted and surly, the teenager gives a hard time to those closest to her, from her father to her boyfriend to the principal of her school. Sangay is rebelling against so many older male figures, trying to emancipate herself.

This is the story of a woman trapped by her circumstances: «I’m just a girl, I don’t think I can.» A woman trapped in the suffocating valley where she was born and sees little future for herself, trapped by traditions and honor. It is the struggle of a woman who sometimes lets flashes of her immense anger slip out—an anger she finds increasingly difficult to control.

What stands out in The Red Phallus, ...it’s the majesty of the scenery, both in terms of nature itself and the way it’s filmed. We’re deep in the Bhutanese countryside, in the heart of a lush valley where fog hides the sky and the horizon. The shots are wide; the pace is slow. We hear the sound of birds, the wind, and the weight of silence. The dialogue, which is rather sparse, is tense and violent—people don’t communicate; they fight! All these factors contribute to building a tension that makes us fear an explosion at any moment.

The images are beautiful and powerful, whether visual or symbolic. In addition to critiquing patriarchy, the film explores the theme of masks—those we wear to hide a secret, a weakness, or an emotion… The film’s aesthetic is both beautiful and fragile, confronting the viewer with beauty, poetry, and violence—and a sense of unease—all at the same time.

However, despite the film’s many visual and narrative strengths, it was a relief that it didn’t last more than eighty-five minutes. Indeed, its slow pace and lack of action can sometimes wear down the viewer’s patience and interest…

Write to the author :  ameliewauthier@gmail.com

Photo credit: © The Red Phallus