[...] practice: Kinds of Kindness (2024)
dir: Yorgos Lanthimos[published 10/12/2024]
KINDS OF KINDNESS IS SPLIT IN THREE, WITH THE SAME CAST PLAYING DIFFERENT ROLES.
THE FIRST STORY TAKES US INTO THE LIFE OF A MAN [PLAYED BY JESSE PLEMONS] AND HIS BOSS WHO CONTROLS EVERY FACET OF THE MAN’S LIFE, FROM DINNER MENUS TO FORCED ABORTIONS. SO, WHEN THE MAN DISOBEYS AN ORDER, HE IS SHUNNED FROM THE BOSS’ TIGHT GRIP, AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE COMPLETELY FREE. BUT, ALL THE MAN REALLY WANTS IS TO BE BACK IN THE WARM AND CONTROLLING EMBRACE OF HIS BOSS.
THE SECOND STORY REVOLVES AROUND ANOTHER MAN [STILL PLAYED BY JESSE PLEMONS] WHOSE MISSING WIFE HAS FINALLY RETURNED. BUT HE IS CONVINCED IT’S A FAKE VERSION OF HIS WIFE, AND BECOMES OBSESSED WITH CONFIRMING HIS SUSPICIONS.
AND FINALLY THE THIRD STORY, [AND MY FAVORITE] IS ABOUT CULT MEMBERS ON THE HUNT FOR A VERY SPECIFIC WOMAN WITH A VERY SPECIFIC SKILL SET.
SO, DID I LIKE IT?
WELL, I REALLY LIKE YORGOS LANTHIMOS. IN FACT, THE LOBSTER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES. AND WHEN I SAW DOGTOOTH, I WAS SPEECHLESS, WHICH, FOR ME, IS A VERY RARE THING.
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THE EXISTENTIAL MALAISE, ABSURDITY, AND LANGUID APATHY IN HIS FILMS THAT FEELS LIKE THE MOST ACCURATE DEPICTION OF HUMANS.
KINDS OF KINDNESS WAS RELEASED ON THE HEELS OF POOR THINGS, AND IN A WAY, THEY ARE POLAR OPPOSITES. INSTEAD OF THE OVERLY LAVISH SETS AND WORLDS, IT IS THE ULTRA MUNDANE AND DRAB REALITY OR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AND CRAP MOTELS. INSTEAD OF A PERSON COMING INTO THEMSELVES AND LEARNING NEW THINGS ABOUT THE WORLD, IT’S A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN THEIR WAYS, WHERE THE TINIEST OF CHANGE IS DETRIMENTAL.
AND SO, THIS MOVIE, TO ME, IS VERY MUCH ALIVE IN ITS DEADNESS AND THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING.
I THINK IN ALL OF HIS MOVIES, HE IS TRYING TO FIND THE MONSTER. ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE: WHAT DEFINES MONSTROUS BEHAVIOR? AND ARE WE ALL CAPABLE OF BEING IT?
AND IN THIS MOVIE, HE IS SAYING NO ONE IS KIND FOR THE SAKE OF BEING KIND. AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALWAYS TRANSACTIONAL. SO THE CONCEIT IS: IF SOMEONE IS BEING KIND TO YOU, BE VERY VERY WARY OF THEM.
I ALSO ENJOYED THE SOUNDTRACK. ESPECIALLY THE “NO" COMPOSITION WHICH WAS REMINISCENT OF A GREEK CHORUS COMMENTING ON THE ACTION, MORALIZING FROM AFAR.
THIS MOVIE, HOWEVER,DID MAKE ME WONDER ABOUT YORGOS’ RELATIONSHIP TO SEX. IS IT A BANAL ACTION, MUCH LIKE MAKING BREAKFAST? IS IT GROSS? AWKWARD? IN LANTHIMOS’ WORLD, IT CERTAINLY IS NOT SEXY. SO, IF THAT’S THE CASE, WHAT’S WITH ALL THE GRATUITOUS NUDITY? IT REALLY JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT HE WANTS TO SEE HOT WOMEN NAKED, AND IF SO, THAT’S PRETTY LAME.