Gummo



Gummo is a 1997 avant-garde independent film by Harmony Korine, who would later go on to direct films like Julien-Donkey Boy, Mister Lonely and Trash Humpers. It is set in the dying town of Xenia, Ohio, after a tornado wrecks it. Most of the residents have moved on to greener pastures, leaving only the poor, criminals, and the disabled. Gummo had a budget of 1 million dollars, and became a cult hit.

Lacking a narrative, the film instead depicts scenes of the residents' nihilistic, miserable lives.

The movie is very disturbing, with a constant feel of unease and disgust throughout. Both surreal and lifelike, Gummo is not for everyone. It's devoid of any typical film structure or really a climax, and often uses still images with narration. The most famous part is probably the bathtub scene, and just as a piece of trivia Werner Herzog said that he was especially moved by the piece of bacon taped to the wall during this scene.