Ever since I saw the first trailer for "The Lobster," I have been eager to see the film. Within the trailer, I got the sense of a humorous, interesting and quirky film that I felt would be absurd and lighthearted. So when I went and saw it a few days ago, I was expecting just that; a film that was interesting, humorous and quirky. I am pleased to report that it was all of those things. I am also pleased to report that it is much more than that – it is thought-provoking, dark, and intense.
For those who may be unaware, the film is set in a future society where single people must survive a stay in a hotel that seems luxurious and enjoyable on the surface, but is actually a torturous and twisted resort. The main premise of the film is that if you fail to find a partner within a certain time allotment, then you will be turned into an animal of your own choosing.
Naturally, the main character, David, played by Colin Farrell, wishes to be turned into a lobster if he fails to gain a partner during his stay. His brother, who was unable to find a partner, has already been turned into a dog by the time the film begins, and is David’s companion for a portion of the film.
In the interest of avoiding spoilers and boring plot synopsis, I would like to express my main takeaway from the film and dwell on a few aesthetic qualities of the film that I especially enjoyed. Overall, I found the film to be highly representative of modern relationships, or at least the way in which modern people approach them. So often, people find themselves trying so desperately to figure out similarities with other people and clinging tightly to them in order to maybe make something work. The film demonstrates this explicitly when a fellow single person in the hotel goes to the extent to force nosebleeds upon himself as the woman he is pursuing a partnership with suffers from spontaneous nosebleeds. Rather than feeling it out and organically forming a connection, many of the characters connect or make themselves connect based off of superficial, surface level characteristics, rather than forming deep, meaningful relationships. This, I believe, is completely relevant to modern dating and relationships, and was not what I was expecting to take from the film.
Aesthetically, the film was visually impressive, and the writing equally so. Here are a few stills that highlight the brilliance I felt within every frame:
As for the writing, I was struck by its cleverness and its unrelentingly dry and deliberate delivery. In particular, there was one scene that left me enthusiastically satisfied and laughing involuntarily. David is sitting with two of his new acquaintances, and they are admiring the ocean together. One of David’s acquaintances asks the other if he’s shown David his leg, and he replies with “No.” At that, he pulls up his pant leg and shows David his leg, and they all nod their heads in acknowledgment and he pushes his pant leg back down. After that, they all sit in silence and there is absolutely no explanation given. The scene ends just like that, and the acquaintance’s leg situation is not elaborated on until the next, separate scene. For that scene alone, as well as the rest of the film, I think everyone should see "The Lobster." If I have failed to convince you at this point, give the trailer a watch.
man running in forestPhoto by 
