“I have no intention of making small or large films, I’m more interested in being able to implement what I have in mind every time. This movie is shorter than “Poor Things”, the next one might be shorter or if it’s longer I’ll try to find a way to make it. I want to have creative freedom and work with people I trustsaid George Lanthimos at today’s press conference for his new film, “Kind of Kindness”, which had its official premiere yesterday (17/5) at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival.

In his fourth appearance at the Cannes Film Festival – after “The Fang” (2009), “The Lobster” (2015) and “The Sacrifice of the Sacred Deer” (2017), the internationally renowned Greek auteur returns with a “triptych tale” that includes three different stories of power, cannibalism and purification. The film’s stories revolve around a man – his boss’s mouthpiece – trying to regain control of his life, a police officer worried because his missing wife has returned, and a woman determined to find a certain person who is destined to become a spiritual leader. The script is co-written by Giorgos Lanthimos with Efthymis Filippou, while the film is expected to be released in Greek theaters on May 30.

At yesterday’s premiere, Giorgos Lanthimos together with the glamorous protagonists of his film, Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwin, Hunter Shaffer monopolized the photographers’ flashes on the event’s red carpet.

A restless anatomist of the human condition

With “Kindness Stories” Giorgos Lanthimos returns to his earlier dark, sarcastic and almost surreal universe. It’s as if he wants to remind us that, in addition to being a successful filmmaker whose films win Oscars and major festival awards, he always remains a restless and perceptive anatomist of the human condition.

“Kindness Stories” consists of three episodes, independent of each other, but starring the same actors, changing roles and showing the different faces of despair, fear and uncertainty of modern Western societies.

It’s a film that requires you to keep an open mind and not be afraid of its constant twists and challenges. When you do, though, it will reward you. All the actors create different characters showing their range of acting abilities with Emma Stone best and Jesse Plemons who is truly impressive.

The dark humor, the extreme situations and the unexpected dialogues finally compose a dense work which leaves the viewer free to choose any – or any – of the many interpretations that Lanthimos and Philippou have hidden in a masterful way.

“The most important thing is to trust others”

At the film’s press conference, George Lanthimos explained that at the beginning the film was to be a single story, the first one we see.

“My initial inspiration was Caligula, because I wondered what it would look like in this day and age to be able to have absolute power over another human being. While developing the concept, we attempted to try something different as a form and create a triptych. An important role was played by the fact that I had pre-decided that the roles in all three stories would be played by the same actors as well as the choice to present the three stories consecutively and not in parallel because we felt that way they would work betterhe added.

Referring to his work, he said that every film is different and as he has stated several times in the past, it is the worst from which one can expect answers.

“Not because I want to make you suffer but because the whole process is about instinct. It is much better for those who see the films to explain them. There are so many different people in the world that I prefer to hear their perspective. This is the best gifthe emphasized.

Asked whether he trusts himself or others more, he said: “I don’t know if I trust myself. I work more with instinct. At first I was very protective of the scripts and ideas I had. But little by little I discovered that there are talented people who can help me realize what I have in mind and also take me to places I never imagined. The most important thing is to trust others.”

In the mind of Giorgos Lanthimos

At the beginning of the press conference, the actors of the film were asked to answer what it is like to enter the world of Giorgos Lanthimos.

Emma Stone said she trusts him blindly after so many collaborations and feels he can do anything, while Margaret Qualley said it’s like a “free fall”. Jesse Plemons stated that entering his world is “a slow process that starts as early as the script”, Joe Alwin noted that Lanthimus’ world is “something you feel more than you understand”, while Willem Dafoe said that working with him is “a pleasure because he helps you touch the beauty”.

Emma Stone: “Georgos Lanthimos is my muse!”

“This is my muse!” said Emma Stone when asked about her collaboration with the Greek director and if she considers herself his muse after so many films they have made together. “We have made this clear a long time ago” Giorgos Lanthimos added with a laugh.

Speaking about their collaboration, the American actress said: “I met him about ten years ago, we had dinner together to talk about the idea of ​​’The Favored One.’ Until then I had only seen the Fang and the Lobster. I was won over by his warmth and how open he was to conversation. And in “Favorite” we had a wonderful collaboration. I trust him more than I have trusted any other director.. I am fascinated by his stories, his films, their characters, the way he sees the world.”

When asked about feminism, she stated that she is a feminist, activist or not. “I never make a film for its message, but because I’m interested as an actor in its story.”