Kinds of Kindness
Dreams are not just dreams
Annie Lennox's haunting voice resonates throughout the theater: "Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree?" as the Searchlight Pictures logo appears, hinting at what lies ahead.
After exploring Oscar cinema with films like The Favourite (2018) and Poor Things (2023), Yorgos Lanthimos' newest work marks a bold return to his unconventional and daring storytelling origins. Kinds of Kindness is structured around three narratives that delve into his unique misanthropist humor: absurdist, deadpan, blood-soaked tales exploring themes of love, obsession, and power dynamics. Truly one of the most delightfully insane American studio films ever made, as Lanthimos pushes the boundaries of what's permissible within the Mouse House.
Each story stands alone yet remains intricately interconnected, sharing common themes and elements throughout. They all feature the same cast playing different characters, but one can grasp the concerns Lanthimos weaves through each short.
The first story, “The Death of R.M.F.,” sees Robert (Jesse Plemons), a white-collar professional whose entire life —from meals and hobbies to intimate moments— is meticulously overseen by his boss, Raymond (Willem Dafoe). Raymond's peculiar gifts and promises of financial security come with increasingly dangerous demands that put Robert and others at risk. When Robert objects at committing murder, Raymond takes everything away from him, leaving Robert desperate to regain his trust.
The second story, “R.M.F. is Flying,” follows Daniel (Plemons), a police officer, whose wife Liz (Emma Stone), a marine biologist, becomes stranded at sea during an expedition. Upon her miraculous return home, Daniel notices that she no longer resembles the Liz he once loved, leading him to believe she might be an imposter.
The third story, “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” depicts two brainwashed disciples (Stone and Plemons) of a strange cult, on a quest to find a messiah rumored to possess the power to resurrect the dead, all under the guidance of even more bizarre cult leaders (Dafoe and Hong Chau).
These shorts explore encounters with the divine, whether real, deceptive, or imagined, all connected by the enigmatic figure known only as “R.M.F.” (Yorgos Stefanakos), who navigates the characters' desires and motivations. Reversing the film would outline a more compelling emotional journey: starting from the search for a deity, progressing to experiencing divine power, and culminating in the consequences of inhabiting that deity’s world.
Yet Lanthimos emphasizes that the divine is not the antidote to these characters’ malaise. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Kinds of Kindness is also a deliberately deceptive title that underlines the extreme lengths to which they will go to satisfy their spiritual needs: from murder and romantic fulfillment to self-mutilation and contamination tests. Their actions, strange and cruel, reveal their detachment from humanity, trapped in the insanity. Ultimately, it’s Yorgos world and he’s still welcoming us with open arms. Who am I to disagree?