Shadows on the Wall | Kinds of Kindness

Kinds of Kindness

dir Yorgos Lanthimos
scr Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
prd Ed Guiney, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Lowe, Kasia Malipan
with Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, Hunter Schafer, Yorgos Stefanakos, Krystal Alayne Chambers, Merah Benoit, Kien Spiller
release US 21.Jun.24,
UK 28.Jun.24
24/UK Searchlight 2h44

CANNES FILM FEST

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Returning to their surreally challenging storytelling style, Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimos Filippou have concocted three separate stories starring the same core cast. Each is a rather warped quest for some sort of redemption, with elements that ring true only within the reality of the narrative. And the actors deliver committed, eerily realistic performances that are often disarmingly emotional. With continual surprises, this is fiercely original and unforgettable.

First there's Robert (Plemons), whose every life detail is dictated by his boss Raymond (Dafoe), including his wife Sarah (Chau). But Robert flinches about doing something violent, and now he needs to get back into Raymond's good books. Next, the cop Daniel (Plemons) is happy when his missing wife Liz (Stone) is found. But something isn't right, and soon he's convinced that she's not Liz. Finally, Emily (Stone) and Andrew (Plemons) are searching for the promised one for their cult leaders (Dafoe and Chau). Emily thinks it's a girl (Qualley) she saw in a dream.

Seven actors play different roles in each segment, as a carefully ordered existence is disrupted and needs healing. But the path back is not remotely straightforward, and most of these stories involve grotesque violence, including deliberate car crashes, a severed thumb and rape. Often, attempts to rectify things go wildly awry, worsening the situations significantly. But there's always a sense of hopefulness, even in the face of something properly frightening.

Within scenes lushly photographed by Robbie Ryan, performances are eerily grounded inside these three alternate realities. They are also fully committed, never flinching from even the most outrageous detail, which makes them feel that much more authentic even when things get increasingly fantastical. Plemons is the standout, with three staggeringly nuanced, emotionally raw roles, while Stone once again reveals her fearlessness in facing whatever Lanthimos throws at her. The other five (and the side players too) shine as well in textured scenes that continually take us aback.

Lanthimos' imaginative movies often feel like provocations, because they force us to go to some mind-bending places. But each nutty twist and turn of the plot comes with an underlying kick of meaning, so our emotions are engaged alongside our brains. We may not quite understand what he and Filippou are trying to tell us, but we know the uncomfortable feelings we are having. As nutty as they are, these three tales explore ideas of power and morality in ways that are quite simply breathtaking.

themes, language, violence, sexuality 8.Jun.24 sfl

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