Piggy (2022) Review

Life in rural Spain is difficult for overweight teen Sara (Laura Galán). Shunned by her peers, Sara spends most of her days helping her family in their butcher shop or enjoying her own company at the local pool. When Sara finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is witness to an event that puts her in an ethical dilemma that fundamentally more complex than it may initially appear.

The tale of vengeance from Director Carlota Pereda is unexpectedly raw. Despite the somewhat predictable predicament Sara experiences in the ill treatment from others, parts of Piggy were actually difficult to watch, with the true horror lying in Sara’s treatment and the extent to which people are capable of going to hurt others.

When fate poses a difficult question for Sara, the viewer can’t help but understand her apprehension at helping her tormenters escape from what appears to be a rather extreme form of poetic justice.

Rather than trying to tie up loose ends, the killer allows Sara to walk away, with a sense of unspoken solidarity that opens a whole unexplored avenue of backstory that has the viewer seeking meaning in his actions. Whilst Piggy could easily devolve down this avenue, it remains firmly Sara’s story – a welcome change from the typical narrative involving underrepresented groups.

Ultimately I found myself more fascinated by the poignant narrative on societies motivations than the killers. Despite her vulnerability, Sara is fundamentally not at risk, at least not in the traditional sense. It is clear the killer has no desire to harm her the way he does others, yet why? Sara is a person with her own hopes, dreams and desires. In an odd twist, I found myself angered at this bizarre injustice.

It’s an interesting metaphor for how we view plus sized people overall, or indeed any marginalised group that doesn’t fit the media’s cookie cutter model of ‘normal’. The compelling undercurrent makes Sara’s motivations and development all the more believable, and for the audience it feels there is something really at stake.

Aside from the narrative, Piggy is visually stunning, with some unusual shots that feel both unnerving and exposed – potentially mimicking Sara’s own sense of self.

Piggy is at times undoubtably uncomfortable viewing, but important in its message and courageous stance.

Movie Rating:

Trailer: