The Butcher's Knife

2016, 5 minutes

A lonely Butcher gets what he wished for, but once he gets it things don’t turn out as he had hoped.

In an old, run down butchers a lonely butcher is pointlessly waiting for some customers. Suddenly a pretty woman comes into his shop. He acts very awkwardly and scares the young woman away. She leaves his shop in a rush and he watches her from his window. Frustrated with his lack of social skills he rests his head against a hanging peace of meat, he feels reassured and hugs the piece of meat. As he is hugging the piece of meat and pining over the girl a hand slowly reaches from behind him and taps his shoulder. He looks back and is shocked to see a beggar standing behind him. The beggar asks the butcher for money, the butcher resists for a bit but after a short while he give in and gives him some money. The beggar gives him a mysterious parcel in return. After the beggars disappears, the butcher gets back to his work. As he chops pieces of meat, we see the parcel shuffling closer and closer to him until it is by his hand. He cautiously picks up the package. He unravels the bundle to reveal a majestic Butcher’s knife, glimmering and entrancing. Suddenly the magical knife comes to life and guides the butcher to the piece of meat that he was hugging earlier. The Butcher flips the door sign, locks the door and carries the meat over to the counter. He slams the knife down into the meat. He looks down in horror and amazement. A sensual ladies hand raises into frame from the piece of meat he cut and wipes the Butcher's face tenderly suddenly the hand wraps around the butcher's apron and passionately pulls him down.

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Companies involved in this production

• Goldsmiths University