As Ken pieces together his furry Frankenstein’s monster, his wife Colette and children talk about the perils of having a taxidermist as a husband/father. Ken’s icy relationship with Colette eventually leads to infidelity involving a protégé taxidermist. That’s one of the few unexpected detours Wayne’s doc takes. The rest focuses on the recreation of one of humanity’s greatest contemporary cryptozoological beasts: coloring the fur just right, getting just the right glass eye. There are some fascinating displays from fellow competitors, as well as a few insightful tidbits (clearly, it’s not the most lucrative profession).
“…if you ever yearned to know what the “huge difference” between a standing bear and a Sasquatch was, you’re in for a jolly good time.”
Ken is quite the character. He takes a lot of pride in his work, as do most of his peers: “Taxidermy is the most difficult art form that man has ever devised,” one firmly states. He openly admits that many may perceive the notion of Bigfoot as ludicrous: “You can see where people will have to reach to accept these forest people.” It turns out, Ken’s not a bad singer either, particularly at renditions of Roy Orbison tunes. I like how he compares a cover band to taxidermy: both involve a recreation of something that’s lived beforehand. He’s well-spoken, passionate, loves nature… and remains something of a mystery towards the end.
The same can be said about the rest of Big Fur. It’s a bit anticlimactic but entertaining, and at times – such as in its quick tracing of taxidermy’s history – rather fascinating. It’s about folks who are so passionate about their unconventional craft, no amount of disdain or ridicule can stop them from pursuing it. (As a filmmaker and critic, I can surely relate.) My favorite bit, however, the one that resonates the most, comes towards the end. “If we were to so tame the land,” a man says, “that we can no longer even imagine the possibility of wild apes out there, then we will have lost something deep, something profound and something irretrievable.” How’s that for both morbid and beautiful?
Big Fur screened at the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival.
"…it’s about folks who are so passionate about their unconventional craft..."
