The Cannes Film Festival, the largest film festival in the world, is currently making headlines as it showcases the latest works of renowned filmmakers. On May 18th (Vietnam time), the screening of Kinds of Kindness, the highly anticipated project from Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone, officially took place and became the focal point of the event, attracting Hollywood stars like Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and Joe Alwyn.
According to Variety, after the screening concluded, the audience gave a resounding applause lasting over four minutes. However, the film has also been described as the most shocking piece at Cannes 2024. The screenplay consists of three distinct stories that explore various sensitive themes, such as sexual orientation, identity politics, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. As a result, many guests decided to leave the screening after the second segment due to its intense content. Following the screening, director Yorgos Lanthimos emerged to receive the applause but did not interact with the audience.
Kinds of Kindness features many graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, and is considered challenging to watch for mainstream audiences.
Despite this, Kinds of Kindness has received numerous accolades from critics, currently holding an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. According to Deadline, the film is described as a difficult watch but one that is exceptional. Collider has referred to it as the most audacious cinematic endeavor from Yorgos Lanthimos to date.
Yorgos Lanthimos is a prominent director known for his unique and surreal storytelling style in Greek cinema. He garnered attention with his critically acclaimed films that often feature absurdist themes. Last year, the director made headlines with his film Poor Things, which helped Emma Stone secure her first Oscar win in 2024.
