Omaha Film Festival 2009

From Topler|Champoux Productions comes the thought provoking short film Richard Dooling's Bush Pigs. Adapted from author/screenwriter Richard Dooling's (White Man's Grave, Dolan's Cadillac) short story of the same name, Bush Pigs tells the story of Micheal Killigan's return trip home after three years spent living in the African bush. His workaholic father charters his law firm's private jet to ensure Michael will be returned to American soil without further harm. After arriving in Omaha, Michael pretends he is healthy but his time in Africa drinking disease infested water and suffering malnutrition leave him plagued with malaria and dysentery. Despite the feeling of emptiness and disconnect to his former life, Michael greets his family and friends with a smile. Years since he had an all-American meal Michael agrees to a treat dinner of steak and ice cream from his step-mother. His journey to the steakhouse becomes the focus of the story as we begin to see America through Michael's eyes. Inundated with the collage of advertising messages, the wide free concrete roads and the giant vehicles that inhabit them and his fiance's obsession with her champion show dogs Michael is overwhelmed. His leftover dysentery takes control leaving him out of control of his emotions. Richard Dooling's Bush Pigs is Michael Killigan's disoriented view of America. The world has changed and left him behind. The only problem for Michael is whether he has a place living in a place he used to call home.