Absurdity and Justice in The Killing of a Sacred Deer | Cinema of Meaning #64
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- Опубліковано 24 тра 2023
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About this episode:
We try to untangle the absurdist storytelling of Yorgos Lanthimos, the real meaning of justice, and the deeper metaphorical layers of his 2017 film The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
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I think it’s really all a metaphor, specially the climax scene:
1. see the lights on the ceiling (like the ones on a surgical theatre)
2. we were told previously that Steven had 2 drinks (2 shots…) before Martin father's surgery
3. spinning… getting more drunk
4. Final result - an innocent is killed
Steven was responsible for Martin's father death, as much as his son death…
So glad you're covering this one. This is my favorite Yorgos Lanthimos movie by far. In fact, I would say it's his only movie that I really loved. But I loved it so much that I put it in my top 10 movies of the 2010s.
Have you seen Dogtooth?
Great review, you both made some very interesting interpretations especially about Stephen and buying the same shoes as he bought Bob. Also, about Martin playing the doctor.
Have you guys noticed how the members of the family (maybe not all of them) are occasionally shot through glass with trees around or plants in general
I noticed there was a lot of empty space and interesting framing in the film.
0:14- This is the funniest cut in a video I've ever seen. You have made my day with this episode.
I think where Knock at the Cabin gets more meaningful is when you realize that the base of most hate (especially racism/xenophobia) is family preference. Our school systems among other things are biased because parents want to give their kids as much of an advantage as possible. Knock at the Cabin takes that premise a step further, but it is still meaningful when you think about it.
As for Lanthimos, I love both The Favourite and The Killing of a Sacred Deer and like Dogtooth (The Lobster fell into my most major pet-peeve of using voiceover to describe what is already shown, something that always just comes off as insecure and distracting to me). What Lanthimos does best is criticize the absurdity of life, but do it in a playful way where it’s not too mean spirited and still leaves you with enough moments of joy to remain invested through the absurdity. Imo he is the best/most meaningful director working today.
Love being able to watch your conversations! Thanks so much for using video for your podcast.
You have to question why Steven never officially owns up to his negligence, gets his license to practice taken away, & goes to jail, which would be justice, but both he & Anna brush Steven’s culpability under the carpet, by refusing to go to the police in order to stop Martin from fulfilling his plan. They don’t want to own up to their responsibility. Neither parent offers their life in place of the life of one of their children. Again, screwing the kids over, so they can live the life they want. And people think Martin is so evil…🙄 They’re worse. Maybe Martin is an avenging angel (after all, he knows things he shouldn’t know, and can do things no one should be able to do - is that what the “floating camera” angle that seems to be a God’s-eye-view of certain scenes is? Martin watching or God watching and sending Martin to avenge?). In the end, it seems Kim & Martin may have plans. After all, Martin knows the good doctor killed one of his own children, so he has leverage.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of the weirdest awkward films I've ever seen. I was cringing through the whole film.