Pig 2021

Robin “Rob” Feld, portrayed by Nicolas Cage, is a once-renowned chef from Portland who has become a recluse, foraging for truffles in the Oregon wilderness after the tragic loss of his wife, Lori, fifteen years earlier. With the help of his loyal truffle-hunting pig, he forages through the woods, delivering his prized discoveries to an inexperienced young seller named Amir, played by Alex Wolff.

One fateful night, Rob’s life takes a dark turn when he is brutally attacked by unknown assailants who steal his beloved pig. In desperation, he enlists Amir’s help to track down these criminals. Their search leads them to a group of junkies suspected to be involved in the incident. While these individuals deny having the pig, they suggest that someone in downtown Portland could have it.

Their journey takes them through the seedy underbelly of the city, culminating in an infiltration of an underground fighting ring where they unearth vital information about the pig’s whereabouts. The following day, as Amir cooks breakfast, he reminisces about Rob’s culinary prowess and reflects on the bitter memories of his own family, particularly a poignant dinner at Rob’s restaurant that momentarily uplifted his parents’ troubled marriage.

Driven by a lead from the fighting ring, Rob urges Amir to secure a reservation at Eurydice, an upscale restaurant where Rob seeks to confront its head chef, Derrick, whom he ironically once mentored. During their tense meeting, Rob chastises Derrick for abandoning his dream of running a pub, leading Derrick to reveal that Amir’s affluent father, Darius, played a pivotal role in the theft of Rob’s pig after Amir inadvertently divulged its significance.

Faced with betrayal, Rob fiercely cuts ties with Amir and confronts Darius, played by Adam Arkin, at his residence. Darius offers Rob a hefty sum of $25,000 for the pig’s return while threatening dire consequences if Rob pursues the matter further. The weight of Amir’s family history blossoms as he discovers his mother is alive but in a coma, hinting that her attempted suicide was a tragic misstep.

Turning to the only thing that once brought him joy, Rob seeks Amir’s aid in a more creative plan to retrieve his pig. With a loaf of bread from his old baker and a cherished bottle of wine from the mausoleum where Lori’s remains rest, Rob and Amir return to Darius’s home. They recreate a cherished meal they prepared for Darius years ago, which stirs deep emotions and ultimately leads Darius to a heartbreaking confession: the junkies he hired had mishandled the pig, resulting in its untimely death, leaving Rob shattered.

In the aftermath, a regretful Amir drives Rob back to the cafe where their journey began, and despite the harrowing events, Rob chooses to renew their partnership. Back in his cabin, he listens to a poignant audio recording of Lori’s voice singing to him, reminding him of the love he once had.

As the credits roll, a haunting shoveling sound and the familiar snorting of a pig echo in the background, leaving an unsettling yet intriguing mystery lingering in the air.