 Those who know the work of illustrator Dave Shrigley will understand how easy it is to fall into cliché when describing his work. Words such as ‘twisted’, ‘dark’ and ‘disturbing’ seem inadequate to express his truly warped view of the world and the people who inhabit it. Now, with the aid of Chris Shepherd who directed the wonderful short film Dad’s Dead, Shrigley has brought his deceptively simple style to the screen.
In Who I Am And What I Want social outcast Pete (voiced with a fine blend of innocence and contempt by frequent Chris Morris collaborator Kevin Eldon) shares his deepest thoughts and desires. Yet when his desires include biting the heads off of birds and generally plumbing the depths of depravity, Pete would seem to be a despicable human being. But is he closer to us than we'd care to admit?
This skirts the fine line of being utterly sick and completely hilarious. From Eldon's narration to the childlike animation that gives it's an utterly unique look, it's no surprise that this film has been a hit at festivals across the world and - indeed - has been selected for release as an individual DVD.
Also on the disc Shrigley provides some really fascinating background into the creation of the film whilst the commentary is provided by Chris Shepherd who has a hell of a lot to say in the comparatively short time he has.
The first ‘DVD single' from onedotzero the package also comes with an illustrated book from Shrigley and is an essential purchase for those who are a fan of the animator's work. For those who have yet to discover him, then this is the perfect starting point. Though if you're expecting Disney, then you're going to get a hell of a shock....
You can buy Who I Am And What I Want at www.onedotzero.com/shop
Released by: onedotzero
Cert: 18
Region: 0 (All)
22 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Japanese
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