BULLHEAD (RUNDSKOP) New Auteurs

Director Michael Roskam’s debut feature is a hulking mass of cinema that practically pulses off the screen. BULLHEAD tells the story of Jacky (Matthias Schoenaerts), a cattle farmer and “juicer” whose life and business are both fueled by similar drug cocktails . As his criminal enterprises escalate, and his life becomes more harried, Jacky flashes back to the traumatic childhood that made him the bull of a man he is today. Memory and longing factor strongly in Jacky’s life and the surprising storyline never quite goes where you expect. This debut film is stunning in its originality and holds you in its tight grip right until the final scene. As Jacky, Schoenaerts gives a tour-de-force performance, radically transforming himself from his appearance at AFI FEST last year in Alex Stockman’s PULSAR. A delicate and deft portrait of masculinity, BULLHEAD is an unforgettable launch for an auteur with an assuredly strong future.