I'd been hoping to see a film that provided a thoughtful treatment of revenge, and this one does. With an undertow of Greek tragedy (the mother seems to fulfill a definition of the name "Antigone"), "Shotgun Stories" forgoes the reflexive fatalism of massacres that achieve little more than the reinforcement of self-gratifying violence coupled to (coupling with?) the pointless emotionalism of most domestic films, finally dwelling on something closer to the truth: that revenge accomplishes nothing but adding to the population of the walking wounded. Or, more accurately in this case, the walking already-wounded. The frank cinematography, understated acting, and the omnipresence of crucial events left just out of sight contribute to a highly authentic articulation of the subject. An excellent use of music, as well.