At one point in Jean’s apartment, Berenger experiences Jean transforming into a rhino – all done through physical acting as there is never an actual transformation.

Destruction and mayhem ensue as more people change. Political commentary about racism, religion, labor are scattered throughout. The wife of a co-worker who has changed to a rhino rushes in to the office and the key question arises of whether it was a one or two horn rhino that chased her. Several of Berenger’s co-workers discuss the news about roaming rhinos and whether it is fake news or not. Berenger is secretly in love with Daisy (played by Karen Black). Meanwhile we are presented with the wonderful logic of “All cats die Socrates is dead therefore Socrates is a cat” to which the reply is “and he has 4 paws. “I am indifferent to life/ sometimes I do not even know if I am me” are some of Berenger’s fears and reasons for drinking. Jean comments on how fantastic it is and that is the crime of the time we live in that Berenger is so complacent. During a lunch meet-up, the noise of a rhino makes everyone look and excitedly remark on. Zero Mostel plays Jean, Berenger’s friend and a sophisticate who is seen behind a rhino statue on the opening credits – the only real sighting of a rhino in the entire film. Gene Wilder plays Berenger who is an alcoholic and apathetic to all around him. The film begins with an immediate quote of absurdity: “What you are about to see could never take place…for as are quick to point out … the world is flat.” I am quickly reminded why I love existentialism. Over 50 years have passed since I first watched the film and still today the blog is named for it and I continue to amass rhino tchotchkes. Wikipedia among other sites, can provide a much more scholarly and in depth review and understanding. In this blog, I will take note of some of the quotes and actions that struck me then and now. The film starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel is from 1974 which is when I became aware of it. As a reminder from past blogs: Rhinoceros is a play by Ionesco, written in 1959. The film / the play / the meaning of the rhino… Original (unopened) cast LP the play a playbill from the original cast and DVD

Rhinoceros film