Iran. In the north of the country in the midst of nature, a group of students go camping on a lake at the edge of a forest to participate in an annual kite-flying competition. But even as they hang out and hold discussions, two mysterious men lurk nearby, who are the owners of a gloomy local restaurant…

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Based on a true story about two restaurateurs who served the human flesh of their victims, filmed in one shot: this is the big draw of Fish & Cat by Shahram Mokri. Because behind this exercise in style, the movie itself is banal and weak, falsely poetic and very clumsy. The grotesque threatens the project at every instant, insinuating itself into murky dialogues, odd narration and the theatrical soundtrack – as evidenced by the sound of knives being sharpened as one of the butcher does his deed in the woods. Paradoxically, the technical tour de force adds a disconcertingly amateur level to the movie, which can be blamed on the below-average acting and the flat cinematography. At least the director shows some flair in deconstructing real time with no other editing than the choreography of the actors. A sad assessment after a laborious 2 hours and 15 minutes.