With tongue firmly placed in cheek, this travelogue exploits the bizarre and taboo cultures from around the world.
The movie's pretense is that it is an observational and unbiased look at various exotic practices and rituals around the world. In reality, they "documentary" is intended to titillate, repulse, and shock Western audiences. The funny thing is that the narration that persists throughout the entire film is cheeky and anything but neutral.
For a while I was reminded of the documentaries of The Maysles Brothers. They tend to choose oddball and eccentric people to document. Their movies, and the "portrayal" of the characters in their movies, are sympathetic but are also a bit exploitative.
With Mondo Cane the intent is a…