How can ancient traditions be compatible with contemporary social standards and everyone’s freedom of expression? Or, rather, is there such a thing as free will in the context of rigid norms that seek to predetermine one’s destiny from their birth? With incisiveness and a subtle sense of humor, director Ievgen Koshyn talks about duty and uprooting, exploring intergenerational conflict and the costs of emancipation. Despite its clear localization, ‘Chop Chop!‘ is, however, a short film with a universal theme, which goes beyond the fate of the Pakistani community in its attempt to adapt to the norms of European life. In fact, regardless of the culture of origin, the causes of tension between fathers and sons tend to touch on the same sensitive issues, sooner or later reaching the same point: the impossibility of reconciliation between the old and the new, between traditional rigors and total freedom. The tragic undertone of this struggle is omnipresent, and the director is fully aware of this. However, faced with the impossibility of neutralizing it, the only form of lucidity that remains is black humor, which illustrates the absurdity of any instilled stereotypes.
His father’s visit stirs up conflicting feelings in Hamza. On the one hand, he is aware that his new life in Scotland is far from respecting the traditions of his culture of origin, which his father holds in high regard. On the other hand, his deplorable marital and financial situation, as well as his responsibility for his little boy, leave Hamza with no alternative. The man must convince his father to help him, even at the cost of his boy’s… foreskin.
Staying true to the conventions of domestic realism, Ievgen Koshyn crafts a dramedy that resonates with echoes of Eugene Ionesco’s theatre, aiming to capture on a micro scale the inherent contradictions of a world torn between conservatism and progressivism. The intimate stakes of the story are complemented in the subtext by a broader social commentary, which, although not fully explored due to the limited scope of the project, brings nuances necessary for understanding the characters’ motivations. With a well-adjusted rhythm that balances seriousness with a touch of (self-)irony, and tracing a family line through three different identities, ‘Chop Chop!’ invites us to reflect on the relevance of certain traditions in today’s secular world
