Greece. Philosophy. Sea life. The last of these things would not normally belong, but the film I saw recently was an exception. On the recommendation of a philosophy professor, I rented the recently released, award-winning "The Lobster". The movie was directed by the Greek Yorgos Lanthimos, and today I'd like to talk about what I thought of it.
To start with, I should explain that the premise is an unusual one. The story takes place in a distopian society in some vague time and place in the future, where any single adult is required-- by law-- to go to a special hotel to find a mate. Any person who stays 45 days at the hotel without finding a suitable match is turned into an animal of their choosing. David, the piece's protagonist, would prefer to become the titular lobster in the event of his failure.
The vehicle for this odd concept is a dark comedy that explores what it means to be in love and the pressures society puts on those living in it to conform to its definition of love. For instance, David is immediately confronted with the choice of being either heterosexual or homosexual upon reaching the hotel. He asks if he can register as bisexual, and his request is promptly denied. Potential couples in the hotel are expected to have something specific in common, like a limp or regular nose bleeding, and budding couples who are not getting along are given a child, which "usually helps". Escaped singles are hunted like animals before they are turned into them. As John C. Reilly's character puts it, "There's a reason [people] practice shooting with targets shaped like singles, and not couples".
Aiding in the development of these themes are a series of quirks that make the world David lives in distinct. People always speak very politely and with formal language, even with personal friends. When they run, they do so in a very controlled manner with small, awkward steps. There is an air of claustrophobia throughout the entire movie, even when David is outside because of how restricting his society's customs are, and it is reflected in character speech patterns and movements. Adding to this feeling is the film's minimal but powerful and effective orchestral soundtrack.
Overall, I would recommend The Lobster. It's not something you can watch mindlessly, but that's a good thing. Anyone looking to be challenged to think critically about something as important as love in a new way will likely find the price of a rental to be well worth it.
