The Brass Teapot 2013

Alice and John are a young married couple struggling to make ends meet in a small town, despite both having college degrees. Their financial situation is dire, with John working at a telemarketing firm and Alice trying to maintain the appearance of success, though they often find themselves unable to afford even basic necessities like groceries. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Alice impulsively steals a vintage brass teapot from an antique store after a minor car accident. This seemingly ordinary object turns out to possess a magical property — it dispenses money whenever either Alice, John, or anyone nearby feels physical pain.

Initially skeptical, John sees the teapot in action and, after witnessing its effects, the couple begins to exploit the magical object to alleviate their financial problems. They start by causing small injuries to themselves to collect cash, which provides a temporary relief from their financial worries and allows them to pay bills and buy essentials. However, the couple’s usage quickly escalates as they grow bolder, intentionally inflicting more significant injuries to maximize the teapot’s payouts. Their greed pushes them further — visiting a dominatrix, undergoing painful dental procedures without anesthesia, and even experimenting with emotional pain, which the teapot also seems to reward.

As their fortunes grow, so does the moral ambiguity of their actions. Their behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and their relationship begins to strain under the weight of guilt and paranoia. They start to realize that they are not the first owners of the teapot; a group of Hasidic scholars, who have been tracking the mystical object, warn them about its dangerous history. These scholars reveal that the teapot has fed on human pain for centuries, causing suffering and destruction to those who possess it for too long. They explain that the teapot’s power is parasitic, feeding on distress, and that prolonged use can lead to personal and spiritual ruin.

As their wealth seemingly multiplies, the couple’s mental and emotional states deteriorate. Paranoia takes hold as police begin to investigate their sudden and inexplicable financial gain, suspecting foul play. When the teapot is stolen, John and Alice’s desperation reaches a breaking point, revealing how deeply dependent they have become on the supernatural object. Their sense of morality is compromised as they resort to violence — both against others and themselves — to recover it, culminating in a tense and harrowing confrontation.

Ultimately, the couple makes a symbolic decision to break free from the teapot’s influence by throwing it into a lake, signifying their desire to reclaim their lives and morals. The act of surrender marks a turning point, as they decide to return to a modest, honest life devoid of supernatural shortcuts. The film concludes on a somewhat ominous note, with a suggestion that the teapot might someday resurface, undoing their efforts and continuing its cycle of temptation—warning of the destructive allure of greed and the perils of seeking quick solutions at the cost of one’s humanity.

Throughout the story, themes of temptation, morality, and the true cost of prosperity are deeply explored, illustrating how desire and desperation can corrupt even the best intentions.