Kinds of Kindness

Movie Trailer

Release Date
June 21, 2024 (United States)
June 28, 2024 (Ireland and United Kingdom)

Genre
Absurdist Anthology Drama

Cast & Crew

• Emma Stone as:
  • Rita (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Liz (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Emily (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Jesse Plemons as:
  • Robert (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Daniel (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Andrew (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Willem Dafoe as:
  • Raymond (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • George (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Omi (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Margaret Qualley as:
  • Vivian (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Martha (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Ruth and Rebecca (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Hong Chau as:
  • Sarah (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Sharon (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Aka (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Joe Alwyn as:
  • A collectibles appraiser (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Jerry (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • Joseph (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Mamoudou Athie as:
  • Will (“The Death of R.M.F”)
  • Neil (“R.M.F. Is Flying”)
  • A morgue nurse (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)
• Hunter Schafer as:
  • Anna (“R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich”)

Director
Yorgos Lanthimos

Producer

• Ed Guiney
• Andrew Lowe
• Yorgos Lanthimos
• Kasia Malipan

Writer

• Yorgos Lanthimos
• Efthimis Filippou

Budget
$15 million

Production Company

• Element Pictures
• Film4
• TSG Entertainment

Running Time
164 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R

Content Advisory

• Intense psychological themes
• Depictions of self-mutilation
• Sexual content
• Violence
• Disturbing imagery

Movie Story
Kinds of Kindness is an anthology film structured as a “triptych fable,” featuring three distinct yet thematically interconnected stories that explore the boundaries of human behavior and absurdity. Each tale delves into the complexities of power, identity, and the often blurred lines between kindness and cruelty.

The first story, “The Death of R.M.F.”, follows Robert Fletcher, a man whose life is meticulously controlled by his boss and lover, Raymond. Raymond dictates everything, from Robert’s marriage to his daily actions. The tension escalates when Raymond orders Robert to kill a man known only as R.M.F. After a failed attempt, Robert’s life spirals into chaos as he loses everything, including his wife Sarah. Desperate to regain Raymond’s approval, Robert eventually succeeds in killing R.M.F., a disturbing act that secures Raymond’s cold satisfaction but leaves Robert more broken than ever.

The second story, “R.M.F. Is Flying,” centers on Daniel, a police officer whose wife Liz mysteriously returns after being lost at sea. However, Liz’s behavior is unsettlingly different, leading Daniel to suspect she is not truly his wife. His paranoia and mental instability grow as Liz reveals she is pregnant, culminating in a tragic sequence where Daniel’s delusions lead to violence and Liz’s death. In a surreal twist, another version of Liz appears, and Daniel, seemingly accepting of the bizarre reality, embraces her.

The final segment, “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” shifts focus to Emily and Andrew, members of a strange sex cult. The couple is on a quest to find a woman capable of reviving the dead. Their search leads them through a series of increasingly bizarre encounters, culminating in Emily’s encounter with Ruth, a veterinarian with mysterious powers. As Emily attempts to bring R.M.F. back to life, the story takes a dark turn, blending absurdity with horror. In a mid-credits scene, the resurrected R.M.F. casually eats a sandwich, oblivious to the chaos surrounding him.

Special Effects
The visual and practical effects in Kinds of Kindness are used to enhance the film’s absurdist tone. The film’s surreal and often grotesque imagery is both unsettling and visually captivating, perfectly complementing Yorgos Lanthimos’s distinct directorial style.

Box Office Performance
Kinds of Kindness grossed $14.3 million worldwide as of July 28, 2024. Despite its niche appeal, the film performed well in limited release, particularly in arthouse circuits. Its per-screen average of $75,457 during its opening weekend was the highest of 2024, demonstrating strong interest among cinephiles.

Filming Locations

• New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Notable Quotes

• “Freedom is just another chain, but it’s the one we choose to wear.” – Raymond
• “If you could live your life again, would you make the same mistakes, or would you find new ones?” – Emily
• “Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is let them believe the lie.” – Daniel

Behind-the-Scenes

• The film’s title went through several changes during production, from R.M.F. to And, before finally settling on Kinds of Kindness in December 2023.
• Yorgos Lanthimos collaborated with Efthimis Filippou for the fifth time on this project, continuing their successful partnership that began with Dogtooth (2009).
• Filming took place over eight weeks in New Orleans, with each of the three stories being shot in succession.

Awards

• Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor Award for Jesse Plemons
• Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival

Final Verdict
Kinds of Kindness is a challenging but rewarding experience for fans of absurdist cinema and Yorgos Lanthimos’s distinctive style. The film’s anthology format allows for a diverse exploration of dark, surreal themes, all while maintaining a consistent tone of unsettling humor. Jesse Plemons’s award-winning performance is a standout, adding depth to the film’s exploration of human fragility and the absurdity of life.

IMDb Rating
6.8/10

Image Source: Searchlight Pictures