Théo et les métamorphoses

Abstract: The film is Theo’s story, a young man with Down syndrome who lives with his father in a house located in the middle of a forest. The story showcases Théo’s inner journey as his father leaves their home for a few days. The journey is divided into six chapters and is narrated by Théo’s voice-over, which is superimposed on images of his experiences and reflections. The story oscillates between imagination and reality, as the visuals on screen represent events in Théo’s mind but are staged as actual events. Details: The six-part journey begins with Théo explaining his aspirations and training to become a samurai. When his father leaves, he imagines murdering him, making him disappear through his autohypnosis sessions. Then Théo meets a snake, who helps him catch the mice in the house. As he continues to meditate, he imagines himself as the protagonist in a ninja movie while his antagonist, a female ninja, beats him up. This experience drives Théo to abandon his desire to become a Samurai. He now aspires to become “a great lover.” Sitting in a tree house, his snake transforms into a woman, wearing a t-shirt with a snake print. They explore each other’s body and apply make-up on Théo’s face as he dresses in her clothes. His father’s return distresses him, but he continues his meditation sessions. He reflects on the god “Shiva Nataraja” and the joy of nothingness. Later, he meets a stranger who shares a nightmare with him. This impresses Théo’s need to transform himself, daring “the risk of complete imbalance,” as he says. He goes into the forest and finds a woman sleeping on the ground. Théo also lies on the grass, and a mental connection between both is hinted at. The woman starts masturbating. Once she achieves climax, Théo stands up and goes away. He runs with a wolf head costume on his shoulders. He howls as hunters hold back the ravenous hunting dogs. He looks a boar in the eye.