TIFF 2024: Crocodile Tears Movie Trailer
Tumpal Tampubolon’s debut feature Crocodile Tears is making waves with its world premiere at TIFF 2024, offering a slow-burning suspense thriller that delves into the dark complexities of family dynamics. Set on an isolated crocodile farm in West Java, this film explores the intense relationship between a young man and his overbearing mother — a bond that teeters between love and manipulation.
A Tale of Crocodile Tears and Control
The phrase “crocodile tears” typically refers to false displays of emotion, but Tampubolon’s Crocodile Tears takes this concept and twists it into a haunting metaphor for the power dynamics between parent and child. The film centers on Johan, a young man trapped in a life dictated by his controlling mother on a neglected crocodile farm. The crocodiles, lurking in the background, serve as symbols of the predatory and protective roles Mama plays in Johan’s life.
Their existence is turned upside down with the arrival of a mysterious young woman, disrupting the fragile balance Johan and his mother have maintained. As the tension between them builds, we’re left to question — are Mama’s controlling ways truly out of love, or is she more like a crocodile, whose tears may appear compassionate but mask a far more ruthless intent?
A Slow-Burning Thriller That Unpacks Family Dynamics
Tumpal Tampubolon skillfully crafts a tale of suspense, where the true danger lies not just in the teeth of the crocodiles, but in the suffocating bond between Johan and his mother. Crocodile Tears moves at a deliberate pace, gradually building tension as we watch Johan struggle under his mother’s authoritarian grip. The crocodile farm, a remote and decaying environment, mirrors the emotional decay happening within their relationship.
It’s a family drama at its core, exploring how control can masquerade as love and how Johan’s journey to break free from his mother’s hold is fraught with psychological and emotional challenges. The arrival of the young woman brings hope and desire into Johan’s life, but it also threatens to unravel the carefully constructed world Mama has built around him.
Why Crocodile Tears Stands Out
Crocodile Tears offers a fresh perspective in the thriller genre, blending themes of coming-of-age, family tension, and psychological control. The slow-burn approach creates an atmosphere of unease, pulling viewers into Johan’s emotional turmoil as he grapples with his desire for freedom and his deep-seated loyalty to his mother.
Tampubolon’s direction showcases a unique voice in Southeast Asian cinema, with stunning visuals of the crocodile farm’s eerie isolation juxtaposed against the intimate — yet toxic — moments between Johan and Mama. The film raises powerful questions about the nature of parental love: Is Mama’s control over Johan truly in his best interest, or is it a form of emotional manipulation hidden behind a facade of care?
Showtimes
Make sure to catch Crocodile Tears at TIFF 2024 and witness this powerful, suspenseful drama unfold:
- Monday, September 9: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto at 6:40 pm
- Monday, September 9: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (Press & Industry) at 9:40 pm
- Tuesday, September 10: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto at 5:10 pm
- Thursday, September 12: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto at 3:15 pm
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