A young man with Down’s syndrome lives in a woodland retreat with his father, whose subsequent absence shifts the drama into unchartered territory.
Theo, or TO as he likes to call himself, lives a life of pure abandon. Roaming the countryside, often with his father, a photographer, TO revels in the outdoors. Writer-director Damien Odoul approaches this first section of the film from a semi-documentary perspective, capturing the two men’s existence. But when his father goes away, TO’s imagination takes over and he conjures up scenarios and worlds for him to live in, perhaps as a way of combatting the solitude. But with each, TO becomes increasingly removed from reality.
Odoul’s film is an offbeat journey into his protagonist’s psyche. He’s ably supported by Theo Kermel’s performance and the film’s striking visuals. (It was shot by Odoul and acclaimed cinematographer Sylvain Rodriguez.) A beguiling rural chamber piece, Theo and the Metamorphosis is quite unlike anything else.
