Film No. 72 (2015) The Lobster. October 10th.

Film No. 72 (2015) October 10th.  10.45 AM LUNA Leederville. 

"A Lobster is an excellent choice" (The response from The Hotel Manager once David had made his choice).

 

Imagine that the world has changed. It is no longer an option to be single anymore. You need to be placed in a sterilized environment with strict rules and time limits so that you might find a partner (criteria being; you both have one common trait) otherwise you'd be transformed into an animal of your choosing. Well that's what is on offer as you settle into this bizarre metaphor for some aspect to societal structure called The Lobster.

The first 30 minutes of The Lobster had me desperately trying to categorize it. An elongated Monty Python skit was one thought then I was reminded of PT Anderson's darkest work, Magnolia in particular. I guarantee you that for days afterwards, The Lobster will have you thinking about what it means to live in a restricted society where natural instincts are controlled or there are dire consequences.

The cinema of the absurd is not a catagory with a long list of entrants it's a genre usually played out on stage in the theatre. So when we open with a single, unwavering shot of a woman (in close up) driving through a dreary rural landscape, blankly staring through a rain splattered windscreen, then suddenly stopping her car, getting out and carrying out what seems to be a very cruel act, we know we are in for a film to test our conventional views.

To the pure cinema fanatic who craves new experiences on the flickering screen you must see The Lobster. Colin Farrell as David will take you on this journey. A journey where deadpan dialogue  seems so empty but means so much. Rachel Weisz and the emerging Ben Whishaw are nameless characters who are keys to us understanding more about David and his plight. Oh and I missed it in the credits but I'm certain it was mentioned that no animals were harmed while making this film. 9GUMS.