How to define this movie? IMDb writes about the plot “Single people must find romantic partners in 45 days or be transformed into beasts and sent off into the woods”.
I kind of expected a certain peculiar movie partly because I heard about this eccentric Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos, and also because of those two lines which define the story line. But it is much more. A dark original satire about relationships, with extraordinary witty dialogues, beautiful photography and brilliant performances. Some actors are well known as Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, others are becoming big and certainly they have plenty of reasons to reach the podium, like Lea Seydoux and Ben Wishaw.
I laughed a lot during the film, sincerely and openly, but it was a bittersweet laugh. Yorgos manages to create a very credible portrait of some of the obsessions of our times, in this case the need to find a partner at any cost. How we will fool ourselves to find elements in common with that person, whoever is available, only to be in line with society and finally proclaim, I am not alone, I am in a relationship! The director is able to take the public through an interior trip where we ask ourselves what is it that doesn’t work about searching for love at any price. Not even real love, just a companion who will help us to feel adapted, fit, normal.
The film is cruel, intelligent and truthful. Do go and watch it if you like to question doctrines and morals. Also if you want to spend a good time with some delighted weird moments. Do not go to watch it if you are too sensitive to black humor and if you do not feel strong enough to witness another sketch of the mediocrity of human kind and its ridiculous efforts to reach normality.