UK Premiere

Short Synopsis:

The events of Goliath unfold without mercy or relief for a man who clings to his search for ‘the sweetest most wonderful cat in the whole world.

Review:

Recently divorced and professionally dissatisfied, David Zellner’s unnamed protagonist finds purpose in his life when his beloved pet cat Goliath goes missing. It is only when his search ends that his intense and increasingly volatile rivalry with a local sex offender comes to a shocking crescendo that - the aptly credited - ‘Guy’ can move on and start over. The film reinforces the suggestion of 'the butterfly effect' and in this case, Goliath's disappearance interrupts the disturbing routine of his owner and forces him to deal with and express the anger building since his failed marriage. When he confronts, without provocation, a local citizen with a history of sex offending, he is putting himself out there in a way he has never done before.
“Goliath” is a comedy with a heart. The Zellner Brothers’ clever script is universally appealing due, primarily, to its variety of influences. The comedic elements, for example, range from prolonged awkward silences and recurring jokes that would appeal to those who prefer more juvenile, gross out gags. The more apparent inspirations, however, are those of Mike Judge and his film, “Office Space”, and the cult-comedy of “Napoleon Dynamite”. In fact, David Zellner’s lead character resembles, both physically and in mannerisms, Napoleon’s deluded older brother. Whilst there are plenty of laughs in this short film, there are also touching moments which are effectively punctuated by the film’s fantastic soundtrack. By not focusing on overly grandiose situations, the Zellner Brothers have grounded their hysterical but moving triumph in 'spoofery'. Absurd, clever and inspiring.

ZB