“Kinds of Kindness” with Emma Stone, a 3-in-1 film that is not indigestible

CINEMA – It’s time to eat, and we might as well warn you, it’s better to be hungry. Kinds of Kindness, a new project by Yórgos Lánthimos, is released in cinemas this Wednesday, June 26. The freshly Oscar-winning Greek director has imagined a UFO in three parts starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Jesse Plemmons, who received the best actor prize at the last Cannes Film Festival for this film. A long film, but which can be enjoyed not without curiosity.

If you have seen Poor Creatures, La Favoriteor The Lobsteryou know: when you enter a cinema to see a Yórgos Lánthimos film, you never know what to expect. Kinds of Kindness pushes this constant a little further.

The director, whom we met at the Cannes Film Festival, explained to us how this crazy project was validated by the producers. “ First of all, it wasn’t a very big budget. (laughs) But then we have a relationship that lasts, they believe in us, trust us,” explains Yórgos Lánthimos. “ I appreciate how lucky I am to have had total freedom of artistic creation since the beginning. It’s often simpler than we imagine. »

A movie of Yórgos Lánthimos in three parties

The feature film is divided into three chapters which are not really chapters since they have little or nothing to do with each other: the stories they tell are different, as are the characters. And yet, these three pieces fit together perfectly to form a whole that is not only coherent, but indivisible. A project whose genesis Yórgos Lánthimos explained to us in detail.

« At first, there was only going to be the first story. Then we said to ourselves that a triptych would be an interesting form », Describes the filmmaker. “So we wrote down lots of ideas, and we kept three that we wrote individually. Then, I wanted to have the same actors, to maintain coherence and keep themes. I have the impression that there is continuity between the three, and that the spectators will appropriate it as a whole. »

The first third follows the destiny of Robert, a (too) model employee who lives only to serve the desires of his boss Raymond. Even the most absurd ones. One day, Robert decides that his demands go too far and decides to tell his wife everything. His life changes in the blink of an eye.

The second part of this triptych focuses on a seemingly good couple in all respects. Daniel is a police officer and lives in anguish following the sinking of his biologist and researcher wife’s boat. But when he returns, he does not recognize her.

The third and final third of Kinds of Kindness plunges viewers into the heart of a cult. Andrew and Emily, two faithful people, are looking for a very special young woman, destined to change the world.

The common thread of Kinds of Kindness

On paper, these three stories have nothing in common. And yet, they all tell in their own way stories of love, emotional dependence, and kindness at its most twisted. Those of broken men and women, who seek approval and recognition from others – whether a friend, a lover, a guru, a boss – or at least On the contrary, they flee it.

The director explains: “ This notion of absolute control over others, which leads to life-or-death situations, is fascinating. I tried to ask myself if it really existed today and to push it to the extreme, to see where it can lead us. The notion of freedom too, knowing if we really know what we want when we are free, what we do when we obtain this freedom, is specific to each person.

And then there’s the casting. Yórgos Lánthimos therefore entrusted the roles to the same actors who perform metamorphoses throughout the film. Emma Stone, whom he has already directed in La Favorite et Poor Creatures, et Willem Dafoe who was his Dr. Frankenstein: “obviousness” for the director.

And then there is Jesse Plemons recently seen in Civil War : « For me, he is one of the most brilliant actors of his generation. I have been following him for a very long time, and I have always wanted to work with him. These roles were the perfect opportunity. He integrated perfectly into our little troop », specifies Yórgos Lánthimos. The cast also includes Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Hunter Schafer and Mamoudou Athie.

A three-course menu with binder

If this film in three sub-parts forms a coherent block, it is also because between these different chapters there are many recurring themes, other than love. Food is one, placed much more prominently in the middle third, at the risk of making you feel a bit nauseous. Other themes that come up several times: twinning, sex and the fluidity of what defines a couple, parenthood and filiation as well.

Kinds of Kindness is a complete, solid anthology, undoubtedly intended to provoke an audience who have praised the director for several years now, as shown by several deliberately shocking scenes. And it must be admitted, the feature film is also at times very funny, drawing from the audience, through the absurd, laughter sometimes embarrassed, sometimes shocked, but laughter all the same.

One thing is for sure, Kinds of Kindness will not leave anyone hungry. But the unique three-course meal that Yórgos Lánthimos offers with this film probably won’t be to everyone’s taste either.

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