The Lobster

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]re you feeling bad about being single when you look at Facebook and see all the cutesy couples and romantic things your friends have done? Feeling like you are going to die alone or rear twenty cats by the age of 30? Fear not, for at least your singlehood will not result in you being forcefully turned into an animal! And that’s exactly the fate which David (Colin Farrell) and all lonely people face in the dystopian, grotesque world of The Lobster from the director of Dogtooth, Yorgos Lanthimos.

David is a drag on a society where people are only permitted to live if they are in a relationship and hold a corporate job. Does this arrangement ring a bell for you? He has about 45 days to find himself a mate in the daunting Hotel, otherwise he will share the fate of his brother –  who is now a dog that David takes care of.

The story is constructed like a classic parable, with many details excluded for their insignificance – only David’s name is mentioned in the film, all the other characters defined either by their physical defects or the role played in the story, which only adds to the hopelessness and timelessness of the script. It is never said what year it plays out in, and only snippets of information tell us that the inhabitants of the mysterious City, lead a disturbed but similar existence to our own.

Image: Picturehouse

Shot amongst the striking landscapes of Ireland, Greece, and the Netherlands amongst others, the film is a masterpiece in more ways than its inventive screenplay. Shot by Thimios Bakatakis, the cinematography is truly breathtaking, with many frames being carefully arranged to be looked at as paintings rather than snapshots of action. Classical music is in abundance, maintaining the lack of an established timeline. The only notable exception is when David and The Short-sighted Woman (Rachel Weiss) listen to Nick Cave’s ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’, after its lyrics are recited by David. It is a startling moment to hear the text spoken instead of sung and Farrell delivers each line with a compelling passion.

Image: Picturehouse

You may think our society is highly materialistic and obsessed with the idea of socializing. Lanthimos drives this point home again and again during the 118 minutes of the film. The idea that you have to have someone around to be able to enjoy life, pervades everything. Western culture imposes on us the notion that we have to share significant moments – pics or it didn’t even happen! Lanthimos’ film is a sharp critique of the myth of community and the slogan that loneliness is inherently bad, thus being undesirable.

I have been waiting for such a film all my life, without even knowing I needed it. It addresses all of the issues I have been thinking about lately, such as the inherent conflict between self and community. In its brutality, and the very reserved and lyrical performances of great actors (Farrell, Weiss, Seydoux, Whishaw, Reilly!) the absurdity of the dialogue and actions shine like blinding stars. You either love or hate this film. My heart aches when I think about it, in the best way possible.

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Cast: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ben Whishaw, Lea Seydoux

Length: 118 minutes

Country: Ireland, UK, Greece, France, Netherlands