Hippo

description

Hippo, a peculiar adolescent, and his Hungarian step-sister Buttercup struggle to come of age in late 1990s America, under the roof of a mother who has been institutionalized at least once.

Loosely based on the Greek tragedy ‘Hippolytus’ — HIPPO examines the coming-of-age of two step-siblings: Hippo, a video-game addicted teenager, and Buttercup, a Hungarian Catholic immigrant with a love of classical music and Jesus. Like the Ancient Greek Aphrodite, Buttercup’s love is unrequited by a young man who prefers to indulge the art of war and chaos.

The film aptly captures the tumult of one's teenage years, within a repressed religious household. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of something one cannot avoid—your DNA. You can escape a monster, a ghost, even a vampire, but not your family; a fact is both horrific and hilarious, and the film revels in both sides.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Fantasia Film Festival 2023

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Mark H. Rapaport is a writer/director/producer and the founder of Kinematics. He has produced four feature films to date, most recently THE SCARY OF SIXTY-FIRST—which won Best First Feature at the 71st Berlinale before being released theatrically by Utopia. Mark’s short film, ANDRONICUS, premiered at Fantasia in 2021. HIPPO is Mark's directorial feature debut.