Body dysmorphic disorder, previously known as dysmorphophobia, is considered a mental disorder where a person can be obsessed with body imperfections and turn it into fear. But, what happens when that fear turns into discrimination and racism? Fingers has a rather strange treatment for that.

Amanda (Sabina Friedman-Seitz), whose middle name probably is Karen, is the kind of girl that wakes up every morning and takes a 30-minute look in the mirror to admire her body, skin and hair. She’s self-obsessed and carries a bag of discriminatory issues on her back. She’s the type of girl that lacks empathy and exceeds privilege. One day, after freaking out for the missing fingers of her co-worker, she goes to therapy to understand her so-called fear of “monsters” as she likes to call them. She sort of understands the birth of her fear and reasons into listening to what her co-workers has to say about his missing fingers— he reveals someone cut them off. Nobody believes him, but Amanda does. Will she find a way to help her co-worker before only his thumb is left to vouch for him or will she just complicate things as she tries to find the true meaning of her fears at the expense of her co-workers life?

Fingers is a crazy/demented film. It seems to have an unusual combination of plots that seem to lead to nothing, and it sure does lead to darkness. It deals with a series of messages that mix with each other and sometimes get lost with the central message. There are a variety of topics: racism, violence against women, discrimination, erotic sadism, and the use of non-inclusive language, among others. But the subject that I did not expect to see and they gave it some importance was cannibalism and, surprisingly, it sort of tied up its ends during its final act.

As for the artistic aspect of the film, it seems to be rough. It gives into a feeling of being a bunch of pasted shorts. It is a rare but nice mix of details that deliver a product full of irregularities that you can appreciate. It may be that the impeccable cast playing relentless characters extols the film giving it a touch that without it could severely affect it.

Written and directed by Juan Ortiz, Fingers is an excellent portrayal of today’s social problems delivered in a package filled with cringe and satire. It is a clear analogy of the selfish feelings of the privileged community and its reaction to the lack of understanding in the face of other people’s situations in minority groups. It’s a slap in the face for the ones that are swimming close to surface while others live in deep cold waters. In my opinion, it’s the perfect slap.

8 OUT OF 10 “KILL YOUR FEARS”