Michael Sarnoski’s Pig is an incredibly moving film, anchored by a tremendous performance from Nicolas Cage and complimented by the stellar supporting cast. The film complicates our relationship to revenge narratives at every turn, becoming a much more profound meditation on loss, grief, and what it means to let go of those we love, to move on and rebuild our lives in their absence. Food becomes the medium of interaction at every point along the characters’ journey throughout the film – it’s how characters barter and make plays for power, it’s how they show their love for one another and make connections, it’s how they bring comfort and soothe one another’s grief. As such, the food in the film is lovingly shot, each meal (and its preparation) filmed in a gorgeous light that connects the characters to a warmth and humanity that much of the film, drained of its color, lacks. And the way these meals – be they extravagant or humble – can forge connections and understanding is truly moving. As Cage’s character moves through a world he tried to leave behind, we’re reminded that it can take tremendous loss to encourage us to throw off the expectations of others and finally connect with your true passions. This is a truly remarkable film and keeps surprising at each and every turn.