CAULIFLOWER is a surreal meditation on what the cauliflower ear represents to the fighter and martial artist, juxtaposing modern perspectives of the ear as a deformity with those of the venerated Pugilists of Ancient Greece. In a nod to the avant-garde surrealist movement the film visualises the unconscious meanings hidden beneath the facade of the fighter’s ear. The imagery reflects the recurring surrealist themes of dismemberment, the weird, and the visceral, in a cinematic explosion of free association. As the film unfolds, the mangled ear elicits emotions beyond simple aversion or awe. Its beauty is discovered in the purest dedication that drives fighters to push themselves beyond their physical limitations, thus gifting unto themselves the Delphic badge of honor that is the Cauliflower ear.

Aurélien Heilbronn is a French director working internationally, directing commercials for clients such as Louis Vuitton, Thom Browne, Tommy Hilfiger and ON. His debut documentary, "Street Racers," unveiled the clandestine world of illegal bike racing in the Dominican Republic, receiving widespread acclaim. "Cauliflower" marks his second Vimeo Staff Pick, following his intimate portrayal of the New York Voguing scene during Christmas in his short film "House of Xmas."