MONA is an extraordinary co-production of Latvia and Iceland. It is not a standard drama feature, although it does not really fall in either of its sub-genres - erotic, thriller and mystery. It blends all of the categories becoming a surrealistic tale. Being an inter-genre mixture, MONA contains many details but there are couple of central elements and characters. Main characters of this film are a woman (Mona) and slaughterhouse (existentialism).
Femininity is undoubtedly exuded from this film in many ways. One can sense irony and unpredictability of a woman throughout the story which is full of tension and unexpected twists. That is why you will catch yourself watching the film with growing interest even after you have seen the scenes that gave you an impression you knew where it is leading to. Despite the veil of femininity, the passion and visions here are very much masculine. Obsession and desire for something that turns out to be phantasmal and dubious are torturing characters in this film.
Blood seems to be one of the unifying themes. Slaughterhouse makes us suspect a grim, bloodcurdling thriller or at least some gore that indeed comes true to a certain level yet leaving the horror fans hungry. Blood here is a metaphysical substance symbolizing both life and death. Another subliminal theme might be the message delivered by one of the characters on the karmic relationships between slaughterers and the slaughtered animals. In a subtle way, this story has its Lynch moment and trifles with the viewer's understanding of reality. Nevertheless, not many questions are left open and director hasn't used a blurry art-house technique to make everything seem endlessly deep in meaning.
Altogether MONA is an entertaining movie and will captivate the viewer with visuals as well as with music and rhythm. Cinematography and music score by H.Ō. Hilmarsson is absolutely fantastic. I have to note that it is not a film about Latvia or a typical Latvian or Icelandic film, the story and everything around it is timeless and placeless. MONA offers something for every taste and that is a strong asset. I assure you for one this film will not bore you with predictability and ordinariness of its plot line.
