Kinds of Kindness

Over the last twenty years, Yorgos Lanthimos has cultivated an approach to filmmaking all his own. Like David Lynch, he has developed a singular, instantly identifiable style, which will, no doubt, one day be- if it is not already- referred to as Lanthimosian. Generally speaking, his films, though varied, usually explore power dynamics, featuring characters who speak in monotone, dialogue that is slightly unreal and darkly-comic narratives containing both bloodshed and nudity.

'Kinds of Kindness' bears all the hallmarks of his style. An anthology film- or triptych, as it is billed- its thematic content is open to numerous interpretations; the most obvious being control, as, in each of the three stories, it is examined in some form. In the first, a man tries to stand up to his domineering boss, with disastrous results. In the second, a policeman who is losing control of his life after the disappearance of his wife, finds things stranger upon her return. In the third and last, a woman working for a cult tries to find an individual who possesses a mysterious power.

With each tale, the case can be made that Lanthimos is examining a different aspect of control with regard to power dynamics and family structures. In the opening segment, Lanthimos explores the theme of subjugation and rebellion, highlighting the delicate balance between asserting oneself and the risks involved in challenging authority. Furthermore, the protagonist's journey can be seen as a poignant exploration of agency and longing.

In the second story the interconnecting notions of power, manipulation and the illusion of control are explored, as the policeman desperately tries to control and restructure a situation he does not recognise, nor has power over. The irrational demands he makes of his wife reveal the lengths one can go to maintain control and stability in the face of perceived chaos.

The third story raises questions about the limits of human agency, following a woman who has voluntarily given up control of her life to a cult. Like the first story, this can be seen as an exploration of subjugation and rebellion, or perhaps Lanthimos is examining fears associated with autonomy, of agency and desire.

However, while control appears thematically in each of the stories, there could be more at play. One could, perhaps, see the film as a religious allegory, with the three stories mirroring the ideas of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Lanthimos may be inviting viewers to explore fears associated with autonomy and desire through this lens.

On the other hand, considering the sacrifice of autonomy for comfort or survival becomes a recurring motif; might the film be primarily about just that: sacrifice? Or is it merely concerned with how manipulation, dominance and submission intersect? The film's digressive structure allows ideas such as these to unfold without arriving at tidy conclusions, leaving room for as many abstractions and interpretations as there are viewers.

Whatever the case, the stories are entertaining and darkly funny, full of the deliciously weird Lanthimosian dialogue many have come to love. However, as each are so engaging, it is a pity that they are not three individual, full-length films in their own right. Lanthimos and co-writer Efthimis Filippou could have expanded any of them into a stand-alone feature and, by doing so, heightened their power and impact considerably.

Despite this, 'Kinds of Kindness' remains engaging and thought-provoking, boasting assured, grounded visuals that heighten the narrative's strangeness. Lanthimos and director of photography Robbie Ryan film proceedings with realism in mind, avoiding flashy stylisations and unconventional camera angles. This juxtaposition between the natural cinematography and the inherent oddness of the narrative is both atmospheric and effective.

Furthermore, Jerskin Fendrix's score contributes greatly to the film's atmosphere. Full of sinister choral chants, like the singing of a group of mad monks, it adds an element of suspense and drama, complementing the visuals and the narrative. In addition, Anthony Gasparro's production design, as well as Amy Beth Silver's minimalistic set decoration and Jennifer Johnson's muted costume design, are immersive, drawing viewers further in to Lanthimos's odd world, emphasising the uncanny.

The film features some of Lanthimos's frequent collaborators, such as Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Yorgos Stefanakos and Margaret Qualley, alongside newcomers to his oeuvre, like Jesse Plemons and Hong Chau. All play multiple characters across the three stories- bar Stefanakos- and excel in each. Plemons showcases his versatility, bringing a decency and humanity to even the cruellest of men. Stone, meanwhile, proves yet again that she is a perfect fit for Lanthimos's material, inhabiting her disparate, bizarre roles with a remarkable ease and naturality.

In addition, Dafoe demonstrates once more why many consider him one of the finest actors working today, bringing authenticity to three markedly different personalities; from the good and the bad to the ugly. Furthermore, Qualley and Chau both bring life to smaller roles, showcasing their considerable abilities, while Stefanakos- totally mute- has a strong screen presence, making his enigmatic character all the more intriguing.

Darkly funny and overwhelmingly odd, 'Kinds of Kindness' is a typically Lanthimosian venture. Featuring three entertaining tales of madness, control and manipulation, it is utterly unique. Boasting striking cinematography, as well as a stirring, sinister score, one won't easily forget it. With strong performances from all in the cast- especially Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe- and comically off-beat dialogue, it is all kinds of weird- and all kinds of wonderful.

This feels like the summer movie for lanthimos' fans 😂

Good piece of art, not at the level of poor things IMHO, but still very interesting. Honestly I felt like with poor things some reviews were searching too much into a "positive ending" or a woman empowerment change... While poor things also had some very dark moments almost like a parody... Well, here we have the usual lanthimos... The one who tends to give us the worst of humanity 😂

I still need to reflect a bit, especially on the 2nd story, but yeah, definitely great dry humour movie. Oh and some scenes will make people talk ... :) This is a funny movie but it's also very harsh

Emma (or Emily 😄) and Jesse and Willem are brilliant as always.

The real Yorgos Lanthimos seen in films like The Lobster returns to leave us completely disheveled in a film disguised as a miniseries composed of three parts, which contain different stories, but are equally raw, dark, bizarre and confusing. Maybe too much. If you don't share the same sense of black humor as the Greek filmmaker, you'll have a hard time getting into these stories. Even more so now that Lanthimos fills us with sequences that may well be metaphors, crude satires and exhibitions of the weakest human being in the face of another full of power.

The script is risky, it's arrogant, petulant, narcissistic and dangerously funny. Now, if we abandon the truth of objectivity to go to the path of subjectivity, I didn't like the plots at all. It looks at you with unnecessary superiority over its shoulder, leaving you confused and disgusted.

It's undeniable that the film is well made, because the technical aspects are spectacular. It has wonderful photography despite how simplistic the film turns out to be. The soundtrack is disturbing and makes us undo the button on our shirt collar. The directing and editing are also wonderful. But the story itself leaves me with a taste in my mouth that is more bitter than sweet.

I will pay close attention to the rest of the reviews, because I'm very curious about the reaction of others to this strange work.

We all know that Yorgos Lanthimos can make great movies, and he has proven this several times in the past. While his films are often uniquely creative and explore fascinating themes, they are also vastly different from the majority of other movies and therefore not for everyone. The best example might be Kinds of Kindness, which is so bizarre and radically different from most other films that it's almost unbearable.

There might be people who enjoy this type of movie, and I can certainly appreciate its unique perspective, which results in a one-of-a-kind piece with many intriguing elements. However, the overall experience was not entertaining for me at all. The production is undeniably stellar, featuring a stacked cast, all of whom deliver great performances.

The movie is structured as an anthology, split into three stories, with the main actors appearing in each story as different characters. While this approach has been done before, it remains a risky choice because it can easily confuse the audience or weaken the overall narrative. The themes explored are interesting and yet, paradoxically, not engaging at all. Each of the three unique, distinctive stories has an intriguing premise, but none of them truly deliver.

In the end, not one of the three stories was satisfying, and all concluded rather uneventfully. While there may be viewers who genuinely enjoy this movie, it is certainly not for everyone. If the first 30 minutes don't appeal to you, it's unlikely the rest will either. Additionally, there was no justification for this film to be stretched to almost three hours, as much of it could have been cut. Ultimately, the final result felt boring, pretentious, and frustrating. [5,1/10]

Weird, awkward, oldschool Lanthimos is back! His latest movies were extremely commercial, and now he's back to his roots with this low budget anthology of a movie. Three extremely crazy episodes that feel like Black Mirror episodes, "Kinds of Kindness" is a movie that explores human relationships with a significant other, with a boss and employer, different power dynamics of each relationship and the power that sex has in our lives and in the formation of our relationships. It's an absurd movie, very weird, and you vibe along with it realising that nothing is gonna ever make total sense and that's fine. I liked it a lot but it surely is not meant for a wide audience.