Cannes 2024 - Kinds of Kindness by Yorgos Lanthimos

Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness is a return to the director’s roots: a dark, surreal, and confrontational anthology that feels like a feature-length plunge into The Twilight Zone. Comprising three interconnected yet distinct stories, the film is a showcase of Lanthimos’s signature absurdity, biting humor, and unsettling exploration of human's unkind behaviour. While it may not reach the brilliance of The Favourite and especially Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness is a fascinating, if uneven, addition to his filmography. 

At its best, it’s a wild, unnerving ride that reminds us why Lanthimos remains one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary cinema. Here he explores a range of themes, from power dynamics and control to love, identity, and the absurdity of societal norms. Each story has his trademark deadpan humour and a sense of creeping dread, creating a tone that is both hilarious and deeply unsettling. 

The first story, which follows a man (Jesse Plemons) whose life is dictated by a controlling employer, sets the stage for the film’s exploration of autonomy and submission. The second, centered on a woman (Emma Stone) who returns to her husband after being lost at sea only he is convinced he is not just a different woman but different altogether! The third sees a couple become entangled in a bizarre cult, delves into themes of faith and manipulation. 

Emma Stone, a perfect match for the Greek director's blend of weirdness, delivers yet another fearless performance. Her ability to oscillate between vulnerability and strength and flirts with the bizarre is on full display here, particularly in the second story. Jesse Plemons, too, is a standout, anchoring the film with his understated yet deeply compelling presence, he could well be a surprise best actor winner. 

Together, they form the emotional core of the film, even as the narrative spirals into increasingly surreal territory. Visually, Kinds of Kindness is a feast. Lanthimos uses stark compositions that heighten the film’s off-kilter atmosphere. The production design, with its sterile interiors and eerily symmetrical framing, reinforces the sense of control and repression that permeates each story. The score, a mix of discordant strings and haunting melodies, adds to the film’s unsettling vibe, creating a soundscape that feels both timeless and otherworldly. 

That said, Kinds of Kindness is not without its flaws. The anthology format, while intriguing, can feel disjointed, with some stories landing more effectively than others. The near three hours runtime feels a little indulgent. What makes Kinds of Kindness so compelling however is its unapologetic weirdness. Lanthimos has always been a master of blending the absurd with the profound, and this film is no exception. It’s a reminder of the director’s ability to challenge audiences, to provoke discomfort and laughter in equal measure in a way we felt he might have lost since his move to Hollywood, although Poor Things showed us he had not lost his ability to shock!

Kinds of Kindness is a bold, bizarre, and at times brilliant work from the Greek director who will satisfy his early fans in particular.

Review by Laurent de Alberti

Star rating: ★★★☆☆

Official Selection, in competition.

Kind of Kindness. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Starring Emma Stone, Jesse Piemons, Willem Dafoe...