The Fantastic Golem Affairs

The Fantastic Golem Affairs (2023), originally titled El fantástico caso del Golem, is a surreal Spanish sci-fi comedy directed by the filmmaking duo Burnin’ Percebes. The film follows Juan, played by Brays Efe, who is thrown into a bizarre existential mystery when his best friend inexplicably falls from a rooftop and shatters like ceramic. This strange occurrence launches Juan into a chaotic journey through a world populated by golems, where reality warps and absurdity reigns. What begins as a quirky investigation turns into a mind-bending exploration of identity, loss, and friendship, filtered through a lens of relentless surrealism and dry humor. Premiering at the Málaga Film Festival and later released in Spanish cinemas, the film quickly gained attention for its unique tone and eccentric storytelling. Shot on Super 16mm film, it boasts a distinctive visual style that adds to its offbeat atmosphere. The narrative leans heavily into absurdity, with pianos randomly falling from the sky and inexplicable behavior treated as everyday occurrences. Critics praised the film's originality and commitment to its weirdness, though some felt the story lost momentum in its second half. Still, the film stands out as an inventive piece of genre-bending cinema, offering a fresh, comedic take on sci-fi and the absurdities of human connection.