Gummo (1997)
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A loose narrative follows several main characters in a Midwestern town who find odd and destructive ways to pass time.
The story
Set in Xenia, Ohio, a Midwestern town recently devastated by a tornado, the film follows a loose narrative of several main characters. These individuals find odd and destructive ways to pass the time in their environment. The narrative is punctuated by various vignettes depicting other inhabitants of the town, creating a collage-like assembly of scenes. The story is narrated by a young boy named Solomon, who recounts the events of the tornado while the film explores the lives of those remaining in the aftermath.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
A young boy named Solomon narrates the events of a devastating tornado in Xenia, Ohio. The film follows Solomon and his friend Tummler as they engage in various activities, including hunting and selling cats to a local grocer, and huffing glue. Other scenes include a mute boy named Bunny Boy, a group of boys in a junkyard, and a man pimping his disabled sister. The narrative is non-linear and collage-like, featuring scenes of drug use, violence, and various vignettes of local life. A significant portion of the film involves the characters' interactions with animals and their environment. The penultimate scene features Bunny Boy and the sisters in a pool, followed by Solomon and Tummler shooting a cat. The film concludes with a girl singing 'Jesus Loves Me' in bed.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 89
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Harmony Korine
- Writers
- Harmony Korine · writer
- Cast and characters
- Linda Manz; Max Perlich; Jacob Reynolds · Solomon; Chloë Sevigny; Jacob Sewell; Nick Sutton · Tummler
- Genres
- experimental; sketch comedy; drama
- Themes
- drug abuse; violence; homicide; vandalism; mental illness; poverty; homophobia; sexual abuse; sexism; racism; suicide; grief; prostitution; animal cruelty
- Tone and mood
- experimental; disturbing; kaleidoscopic
- Premise and plot tags
- non-linear narrative; experimental; anti-social behavior
- Content notes
- violence; substance abuse; sexuality; language
- Reception
- The film received generally mixed to negative reviews from critics, but it has since become a cult film and was included in the Criterion Collection in 2024.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 39% · scale: percentage · review count: 61; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 6.0 · scale: 10
- Awards and nominations
- special mention · FIPRESCI jury · win
- Production trivia
- The title is an oblique reference to Gummo Marx.; The film was shot in Nashville, Tennessee.; The film was shot in just four weeks.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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