Man Without a Past (2002)

RATING:	80%
FORMAT:	DVD

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Brilliant surrealist black-comedy whose implausible plotting makes it a totally engrossing look at the nature of human identity.

A man, apparently beaten to death, comes back to life to find he’s forgotten who he is. Bizarre adventures follow in the near-alternate universe of the homeless and their helpers: The Salvation Army. Slowly, he rebuilds his life but still has no memory of who or what he used to be; leading to fatalist acceptance coupled with a desire to become the manager of a rock 'n' roll band.

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The acting and direction is completely deadpan to emphasise the odd netherworld explored - analogous to the abnormal psychological state of the central character. Redeemed, he finally comes to terms with the better man he has now become - as well as the bad man he once was: Being savagely beaten was clearly the best thing that could ever have happened to him.

Copyright © 2012 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.