The story surrounding Khavn‘s “The Family That Eats Soil” (Original Title: “Ang Pamilyang Kumakain ng Lupa”) is indicative of the ingenuity of the filmmakers of its time. It was supposedly only given a development grant in 2004 by the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival of Rotterdam yet, Khavn delivered a complete feature. The film is reflective of Khavn’s almost-political position about the potential of the economy of digital video (Dv) technology expressed in various manifestos. Twenty years later, the movie exhibits both datedness and foresight that makes it more exciting to see today.

Loosely adapted from a short story he wrote, “The Family That Eats Soil” stands apart in every respect, from its ensemble of eccentrics to its bold, unconventional form. Its approach to engaging with the family dynamic often brought critics to compare it with Pier Paolo Pasolini‘s “Teorema” or Takashi Miike‘s “Visitor Q” from a thematic point.