Rhinoceros (1974)

In the eccentric realm of Rhinoceros, a film adaptation of Eugene Ionesco's avant-garde play, a seemingly ordinary day spirals into chaos. Stanley, a perpetually hungover everyman, finds himself at the heart of a bizarre phenomenon plaguing his small French town. His day begins with a jarring encounter with his high-handed best friend, John, at a local restaurant, their usual banter interrupted by an unexpected spectacle - a rhinoceros rampaging through the peaceful town. This peculiar disruption provides a source of entertainment for the townsfolk, until the rhinoceros barrels through the restaurant, leaving a trail of wreckage in its wake. The talk of the town rapidly shifts from idle gossip to heated debates about the inexplicable news of rhinoceros sightings. Among the disbelievers and skeptics, Daisy, the attractive yet somewhat naive office worker, staunchly maintains that she witnessed the creature firsthand. Stanley's late arrival to the office coincides with the escalation of this peculiar situation. The absurdity of the day reaches its zenith when a coworker morphs into a rhinoceros before their very eyes. Suddenly, the town is gripped by a mysterious affliction - "rhinoceritis" - a condition in which the townsfolk inexplicably transform into rhinoceroses. Rhinoceros is a riveting exploration of societal pressure and conformity, wrapped in a shroud of absurdity. As the metamorphosis spreads, Stanley finds himself resisting the urge to succumb, turning the film into a compelling question mark - why are people turning into rhinoceroses, and what profound message does Ionesco wish to convey about the nature of society? The film masterfully blends the everyday with the extraordinary, inviting viewers to ponder the profound amidst the preposterous.

Rhinoceros is a comedy movie featuring Gene Wilder and directed by Tom O'Horgan.

Rhinoceros is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy Rhinoceros on Amazon Video and Kino Now.