A lot of fun.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

When I first started writing this comment it was full of spoilers and consisted of me writing its faults which run throughout the entire film but I'm going to save you that and just make my point. OK yes these people are linked by this bull fair enough but each character in the film isn't properly explained and their stories are utterly ridiculous so that you are left asking why did they do what they did? Why am I watching this? The film often raises a point for a character but then refuses to resolve it and there are a large number of scenes that serve no purpose. So why did I give it 2 stars rather than 1? Everyone now and then it managed to achieve extremely poignant moments and I'm sure its these combined with the fly on the wall look into peoples lives that has lead some to love it but I can't believe these characters, they seem poor fabrications that have little reason for existence in the first place.

"Carnages" is a very weird and bizarre movie, taking place in Spain, Belgium and France and with the stories linked through meat, bones, eyes and horns of a bull killed in a bullfight. Most of the stories are intriguing, sometimes funny and even surreal, with very odd characters; although original, the whole is irregular. The cast has good performances, and this overrated film was awarded with five prizes, plus three nominations in some festivals. The cover of the Brazilian VHS indicates that this movie won also the Best Film in the FICBrasília 2003, which is not listed in IMDb. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "Estranhas Ligações" ("Weird Connections")

Formally and in terms of subject matter this movie is a really fine piece of cinema. The music is perfect and its direction and editing have moments of true brilliance. This film explores the events that surround the death of a bull. This film is inspired by the forms and the spiritual intent of ancient myth. The film begins with a bullfighter getting gored in the arena as he kills his first bull. The bull is then processed and divided into its respective products. As the these parts move out into the world they "affect" the lives of the film's characters. The struggles of each individual character seem resonant with the struggle between the bull and his bullfighter. Each story takes on the feel of a fatal dance.This film is not an attempt to describe the world as it is but rather it is the telling of a story that appeals to our mystical notions of the world. It is a retelling of an ancient myth of replenishment as it relates to modern symbols of grace. Our relationship with the animal master is intact and a covenant still exists between man and beast. It is an understanding that the bull will die and be consumed and that we will kill and reclaim him. It is a pact to participate in the business of life and recognize the inexhaustible source from which all life comes, to which all life goes. This is a great film but modern film goers may need some help with its reference.

So far the posted comments are mostly negative and appear to take the stance that the six degrees of separation syndrome is bull. I enjoyed it. Sue me already. Okay, it was the name Jacques Gamblin that 'sold' me. He's a solid, reliable actor who I've never seen give a bad performance whilst I HAVE seen him give some doozys. About a year ago he shared a screen with Clovis Cornillac in A Small Week and they're both here again except they never have a scene together. I was also interested in whether or not Lio could act - previously I'd seen her only in concert singing Prevert (not all that well, if anybody asks you, but then she did have to follow Montand). If as a film maker you are interested in telling the stories of several disparate characters there are worse ways to do it than to connect them via a dead bull. Okay, most of the characters are straight from Central Casting Weird but they do perform well and entertain. As a debut I'd say this was pretty impressive. 8/10