The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015): Ireland | UK | Greece | France | Netherlands | USA

Reviewed by Ashley Wierl. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2015.

“The lobster”, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos resonates as a deadpan comedy with a central focus on love and loneliness. The film is set in some future world where being a couple is by far the most important thing necessary for basic societal functions. Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux, and John C. Reilly this film reaches to a wide audience with its humorous take on society and romantic relationships, and individuality.

The premise of the film is a world revolving around couples. If someone does happen to become single, they are sent to a hotel where they have 45 days to find love before they are transformed into an animal of their choosing. At the hotel they are forced to engage is exercises that emphasis the importance of being a couple, and are encouraged to fall in love with someone who they share a defining characteristic with. The only alternative to this lifestyle is living with other “loners” in the woods, constantly on the run from those at the hotel who try and capture them to turn them into animals. The story follows David (Colin Ferrell) and his experiences of being single and falling in love with a loner he meets along the way (Rachel Weisz).

The acting of Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz really elevate this film to grab hold of the audience. The employment of near emotionless speech for seemingly serious and/or hilarious topics add to the humorous value of the film. An ever so casual nature of a truly overbearing importance on being a couple allows audiences to reflect into their own romantic relationships, shedding light on aspects that at their core just silly. For example, in the film people are bonded together by their limp, frequent bloody noses, or shortsightedness.

If you’re into this sort of awkward comedy, or anything along the lines of romance, science fiction, and thrillers, “The Lobster” will be a delight.


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