A Slice Of Life

A black comedy dealing with oedipal conflicts, burning hot pizza and disfigurement. A tracking camera reveals a sleeping man named Melvin. In a period-piece dream (of his own childhood?) we see a young mother with a baby carriage and an older, heavy-set man with a cigar. When the carriage rolls down a staircase toward the man, his bulk fortunately stops it and saves the baby. Later, they meet again at a pizza parlor, where hot cheese from the slice he orders inadvertently slides in slow motion onto the baby. The dreamer awakens with a start revealing a face marred by burn scars. Showing the traumatic memory from the pizza parlor

Directed by William Kent, A Slice Of Life leans on a strong ensemble — Carolyn Beauchamp, Garry Bronko Ray, Dai Kornberg — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1988.