When I found out that Yorgos Lanthimos was going to bring a new film, where among others Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe were the protagonists (especially after their super performance in "Poor Things"), I can say that I was looking forward to it, so when went to the cinema, went to Cineplexx and had no expectations, because the Greek director is like that: Unpredictable! In fact, I can say that I really had no expectations, but I certainly did not expect to see what I saw! In "Kind of Kindness" everyone is kind, but not in the way we think!
Watch out! This article contains spoilers!
Ok, since curiosity did not leave you, let's continue!
First of all, I must tell you that this film is '3 in 1', that is, 3 separate chapters with the same actors. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley, Willem Dafoe, Hong Chau, Mamoudou Athie and Joe Alëyn are cast in various roles.
Second, let me tell you right from the start: This movie is so weird, cruel, and the "goodness" the title talks about doesn't exist. If you've seen other productions by Lanthimos, such as "Dogtooth" and "Lobster", the film had such references. (From "Dogtooth" manipulation; from "Lobster" political views and sex).
The themes covered in "Kind of Kindness" are many, starting from cannibalism, obsession, illusion, absolute control of another's life and inexplicable mania. What connects the three chapters is very unclear, yet there is a common idea: Kindness is simply so malleable and accommodating to the morals and desires of another. The only thing that unites the three chapters is a silent man who never says a word and bears the initials "RMF". RMF is played by Yorgos Stefanakos and is the same in every chapter, so it is the connecting bridge of this 'triology'. Although he is silent, his presence is still vital, as it gives you a familiar feeling from the previous chapter.
Chapter One – "Death of RMF"
In the first chapter, "Death of RMF", we see clear references from the film that is also known as Lanthimos' masterpiece, "Dogtooth" (2009). In this first chapter, Lanthimos introduces us to Raymond (Willem Dafoe), who controls the life of Robert (Jesse Plemons). Raymond and Robert have a strange relationship that starts with rules and ends with kisses. Raymond decides what weight Robert should have; whom to marry; what to drink, what to eat and what to read, as well as not allowing her to have children. For 10 years in a row, Robert has been subjected to absolute control, without making a sound and without ever objecting. In this chapter I clearly felt the embarrassment of Robert, who is ordered by Raymond to do an extreme act!
Në këtë rast, Raymond është “simboli i mirësisë”, pasi i dhuron shtëpinë, makinën dhe jetën perfekte Robert-it, por në këmbim, e kontrollon në gjithçka që ai bën. Kështu, Robert detyrohet që të bëjë pakt me këtë dhe t’i bindet “shefit” dhe ndonjëherë, dashnorit të tij.
Por, jeta e tij ndryshon dhe privilegjet nuk janë më të njëjtat kur kundërshton kërkesën ekstreme të Raymond. Ai i rrëfehet gruas për gjithçka dhe braktiset prej saj. Robert mund edhe të mos rrëfehej, por në mendimin tim si shikuese, Robert donte të çlirohej fizikisht, shpirtërisht e moralisht nga gijotina e Raymond, kështu që mendoi t’ia thoshte historinë e tij personit më të afërt, gruas, për të zbuluar se në fakt, ishte totalisht i vemtuar në këtë botë. I papunë dhe i paafruar nga të tjerët, Robert zbulon se tanimë është zëvendësuar nga Rita (Emma Stone). Qëllimi i tij është të rimarrë në kontroll jetën dhe privilegjet, ndaj më mirë zgjedh të jetojë në “qelinë” e Raymond, sesa të ndërmarrë vendimet e veta.
Kapitulli i parë më la me ca ndjesi të përziera, por të jem e sinqertë, edhe e konfirmova se Yorgos Lanthimos është unik dhe kaq i çuditshëm. Fillimisht, më dukej paksa e paimagjinueshme që një burrë t’i bindet një tjetri pa asnjë diskutim, duke ndrydhur edhe dëshirën për pasardhës, por më tej, e kuptova se në fakt, më shumë se bamirësi (Raymond) që të kishte çdo gjë nën kontroll, ishte ai ndaj të cilit kryhej mirësia (Robert), personi që donte të mbahej nën kontroll.
Ndryshe nga “Dogtooth”, ku subjekti është një baba që i mban fëmijët të mbyllur në shtëpi, për shkak të “rreziqeve të botës së jashtme”, në “The Death of RMF”, Robert do të qëndrojë “mbyllur” për shkak se e di se sa e rrezikshme dhe jo mikpritëse është bota jashtë.
Kapitulli i dytë – “RMF is Flying”
Personazhet ribashkohen sërish në kapitullin e dytë, i cili për mua, është ndoshta më brutali. Në këtë kapitull, fiksimi, shëndeti mendor dhe mania degradohen dhe sjellin kanibalizmin dhe manipulimin. Në “RMF is Flying” tregohet historia e policit David (Jesse Plemons), i cili bie në dëshpërim të thellë pasi e shoqja, Liz (Emma Stone) humb në një ekspeditë në oqean.
Ndërsa ai vajton te miqtë, lan dhëmbët dhe jeton në monotoni, merr një telefonatë ku tregohet se gruaja ishte gjetur. Liz mbërrin në shtëpi dhe David fiksohet se ajo nuk është gruaja e tij e vërtetë, në bazë të veprimeve që s’i ka bërë më parë. Shpeshherë, filmi ka një shkëputje (si te “Poor Things”) mes kujtimeve të Liz (të paraqitura bardhë e zi) dhe realitetit që jetojnë.
Shpejt, fiksimi i David merr përmasa më të mëdha dhe ndikon edhe në punë. Pas një pushimi të detyruar, David merr ilaçe për shëndetin mendor dhe refuzon të hajë. Liz, e dëshpëruar rreket që t’i mbushë mendjen që ai të ushqehet, por kërkesa e David për të thyer urinë lidhet me trupin e Liz.
In this chapter, absolute control is not felt like in the first part, but it is in the form of manipulation. Liz does everything to win back David's love, even through excruciating physical pain.
Chapter Three – "RMF Eats A Sandwich"
In this chapter we see the strange story of a cult that controls the people it belongs to. They don't want these people to have sex with anyone but Omi (Willem Dafoe) and Aka (Hong Chau). Strange scenes ensue, where Emily (Emma Stone) and Andrew (Jesse Plemons) search for a woman who can raise the dead. In her search, the control the cult exerts and their unparalleled desire to be part of the cult are revealed.
Among all the serious topics that are dealt with, in this three-chapter summary you can laugh at all the absurdity that interrupts the events like a knife. For example, in one of the coolest scenes for me, Emily finds the woman in the prophecy, kidnaps her, raises the dead (RMF), parks the car, and jumps in euphoria.
Even in this chapter, people are blinded by manipulation and control. They want to remain hostages of control, of the cult and continue to perform sexual rituals with Aka and Omi, sacrificing home and family. Emily does whatever it takes to be a part of the cult and she just won't stop!
I can say that like every other Lanthimo film, this one was bold and had quite beautiful and accomplished symbolism; the dialogue was also awkward, as befits such films, but again, there were some elements that caught my eye.
"Kind of Kindness" was very long and somewhat tedious. Often the connection between the symbolism and the event could be broken, as if to test my attention and patience. The mixed feelings of disgust, surprise, pity and admiration for the actors were present throughout the film, but I wish I experienced them a little more gently. Each scene did not let you get away from the next, and that's because there were so many themes that Lanthimos wanted to convey. Although I really liked the themes and would like to see them often in movies, I still wish it was more focused on 1-2 and not spread out.
In total, "Kind of Kindness" is an accomplished film, but with some minor problems, which unintentionally damage the film. But, I have to say: It caught me off guard, shocked me, shook me and made me think again that Emma Stone is "born" for such films. I have to say that the selection of the cast, maybe it seems "disconnected", it seemed to me a mosaic that complemented each other very well.
My rating for "Kind of Kindness" – 7/10.
- This article is a personal opinion, written by A. Shehu, contributing editor at Anabel Media.
Copyright Anabel.al / Reprinting without the permission of the editors is prohibited.
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