During the middle ages, animals were subject to the same laws as human beings, meaning they could be tried and convicted even for crimes such as murder. Such is the situation faced by a pig belonging to a group of traveling Jews camped outside the town of Abbeville in fifteenth century France. Meanwhile, Richard Courtois, a brilliant lawyer, has left Paris to settle in Abbeville, tired of the crime and corruption of the big city. But country life is not what he thinks, and soon enough he finds out that Abbeville may be even worse than Paris. When Courtois is assigned the defend the pig accused of murder, he finds himself caught up in a vast conspiracy that reaches all the way to the top of feudal society. Directed by Northern Irish director Leslie Megahey, who spent most of his career in television, The Hour of the Pig (released in the US as The Advocate) is a delirious, rambunctious, and ribald dark comedy. Part Monty Python and the Holy Grail, part Alan J. Pakula style political thriller, and part Seventh Seal, Megahey uses a sweeping camera, lush colors, and trippy imagery to create a film that very may well outdo the aforementioned. His attention to detail is certainly to be noted, from the little medieval version of the newspaper salesman who peddles macabre images to the weird donkey laugh of the feudal lord's sexy daughter to the costumes and makeup, he certainly makes sure all of the elements are dancing together just right. Colin Firth deserves mention for his performance as Courtois, bring the right mix of pathos and comic timing, and certainly knowing how to pull off fourteenth century fashion. Populated by quirky characters (in the best sense of the word), and searing dialogue, The Hour of the Pig is certainly a hidden gem. That Harvey Weinstein called it the worst film he had ever worked on, and urged people not to see it, should give one some idea of how good it really is.
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