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Kinds of Kindness, the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos, hit theaters on June 21, 2024, in the US, and on June 28, 2024, in the UK and Ireland. The film stars Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe along with an impressive cast, including Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley.
A dark and thought-provoking anthology, Kinds of Kindness explores control, love and cruelty in three interconnected stories. The film premiered at Cannes, where Plemons won the Best Actor award.
Kinds of Kindness is based on three distinct stories connected only by recurring characters and a mystery figure, RMF. Strange and disturbing in its own right, every story captures several facets of human behavior and relationships. Although it leaves viewers to consider its meaning, the movie doesn't offer definite solutions.
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The official synopsis states:
"A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide."
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Kinds of Kindness. Reader discretion is advised.
All about Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe starrer Kinds of Kindness
The first story, titled The Death of RMF, introduces Robert Fletcher (played by Jesse Plemons), an office worker controlled by his domineering boss, Raymond (Willem Dafoe).
Raymond dictates every aspect of Robert's life, including his relationship with his wife, Sarah (Emma Stone). One day, Raymond orders Robert to kill RMF by crashing his car. Robert tries but fails, only to be fired by Raymond and left without direction.
After Sarah leaves him, blaming Robert for her miscarriages as Robert's life spirals out of control. Desperate to regain Raymond's favor, Robert eventually kills RMF by running him over repeatedly.
The story ends with Robert embracing Raymond and his lover, Vivian (Margaret Qualley), suggesting that Robert has once again submitted to Raymond’s control.
RMF Is flying
The second story, RMF Is Flying, centers on Liz (Emma Stone), a marine biologist who returns home after being lost at sea. However, her husband, Daniel (Jesse Plemons), becomes suspicious, believing she's not the real Liz. His paranoia grows as he notices changes in her behavior and appearance.
Daniel’s mental health deteriorates, and he forces Liz to mutilate herself to prove her loyalty. She complies, cutting off parts of her body to feed Daniel. In the end, Liz dies, but another version of her arrives at Daniel’s doorstep. The story ends ambiguously, leaving the audience to question whether Daniel’s fears were justified.
RMF eats a sandwich
The final story, RMF Eats a Sandwich, follows Emily (Emma Stone) and Andrew (Jesse Plemons), members of a s*x cult led by Omi (Willem Dafoe) and Aka (Hong Chau).
The cult seeks a woman with the ability to resurrect the dead. Emily finds a candidate, Rebecca (Margaret Qualley), whose twin sister Ruth (also played by Qualley) fits the prophecy.
Rebecca kills herself, and Ruth successfully revives RMF, who had died earlier. Emily celebrates, but the story takes a tragic turn when Ruth dies in a car accident. Over the credits, RMF eats a sandwich, marking a bizarre and surreal ending.
Production and direction of Kinds of Kindness
Kinds of Kindness is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, known for his unique storytelling and cinematic style.
The movie brings Lanthimos back together with Emma Stone for their fourth working relationship. With long-time friend Efthimis Filippou, Lanthimos co-wrote the screenplay. Principal filming for the movie took place in New Orleans and will wrap in December 2022.
The film’s score, composed by Jerskin Fendrix, adds to the unsettling atmosphere of the movie. Lanthimos and Filippou initially wrote ten stories for the film but narrowed it down to three, all centered on the enigmatic character RMF.
The odd and disturbing film Kinds of Kindness asks the audience to consider the nature of control, relationships and identity. The film lets a lot of room for interpretation with its three linked stories and uncertain ends.
Fans of absurdist film should check out this movie, as Yorgos Lanthimos's original direction and Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe's outstanding performances really shine.
Kinds of Kindness is available to stream on Hulu.
