Chowing Cinema #1: The Lobster (2015) – Weirdly Appetizing

The Lobster is one of those movies where you probably have never heard of. It’s the one you google “good movies 2015” to find its existence. That process of finding the movie is similar to how the movie portrays itself. Sometimes life gives you what you want, but it might not be exactly what you like. The Lobster represented as an awkward rock amongst a pile of gems and that caught my attention. I personally liked the movie due to it’s uniqueness and weirdness. The movie is unique due to its portrait of humanity in the extreme ends of the spectrum. The interactions between characters are black and white, yes or no, together but single. It’s weird in how the portrayed society doesn’t really make sense, but you choose to accept it because you’re entertained. This movie is not for everyone. In spite of that if you’re interested in something different, grab a buddy of yours or a significant other to watch this movie with you and you’ll have a fantastic or abysmal but most definitely “what the heck?” time.

The Lobster is categorized as a comedy (or drama), yet not a laughter can be heard besides one scene. This dystopian world must have not invented jokes yet, so everyone tries to match with one another based on similar “defining characteristics”. Also, in this movie society believes everything is better in couples. Finding the other person funny is an integral part of seeing if the other person is right for companionship. Therefore, the characters try to find a lover even if there isn’t any connection. All of the comedy hides within the actions and irregularities of the characters. They don’t find their actions to be funny or odd, but a normal means to convey information which is unsettling. The Lobster first seems comical compare to modern day society, but will end in life changed questions. Like, what would you sacrifice for your lover? Do you really love your significant other or is pressured by societal norms to be with them? Are you gay or not?

For example, our protagonist David is asked if he would prefer to be considered as heterosexual or homosexual. He just lost his wife of 12 years due to some unknown reason and is sent to a hotel to find another “true” love and thus considered himself as heterosexual. He has 45 days to do so or else he is turned into an animal of his choosing, which you guessed it, a lobster. By turning into an animal he has another chance to find love. However, he mentioned he had one homosexual experience in college and asked for a bisexual option. The bisexual option was canceled some seasons ago due to some unknown troubles transforming people into animals. Normally, a person’s sexuality is concrete and the person would answer it right away. But this guy takes about 10 seconds to think it over silently and answered heterosexual for his stay in the hotel. It’s these types of moments you go “what? like did you stayed married to your wife for 12 years when you could be gay?” and just laugh it off, letting the movie slowly take you over. The conversations are straight forward and serious. Even so, the jokes are sublimely subtle and clever. Good art can inspire and impress, but great art immerses and changes the viewer. Choosing to believe the logical oddities of this movie will make or break the immersion. Theorizing what you would have done in his situation with the person next to you might change the dynamics your relationship. Everything is better in couples, or not.

This movie pushes your limits for tolerance. It will not be funny like Mr. Bean or Thor: Ragnarok. Those movies excel at appealing to the majority of audiences, but The Lobster appeals to the weirdos who have eccentric tastes. Would I recommend this movie to watch with a big family movie night? No, hell no. Would I recommend this to watch with your friend or partner? Yes, definitely. The Lobster is one of those habitual quirks you don’t want the public to know because it will weird them out, but weird enough to make it charming to your close friends and family. For that reason, this movie has been in the shadows without a spotlight. You can only show this movie to a few people who would truly enjoy it and the rest will find it pretentious. Hopefully you will enjoy The Lobster as much as I did and don’t ruin yourself in the process.

“If you encounter any problems you cannot resolve yourselves, you will be assigned children, that usually helps”

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