Yorgos Lanthimos’ Evolution as a Director

Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest film, Poor Things, marks a distinct turn away from some of the stylistic choices he’s made throughout his body of work. However, even though Poor Things showcases his willingness to explore new visual approaches, it is still unmistakably a Lanthimos film. His directorial style is anything but conventional – unorthodox rehearsals, unconventional coverage, creative use of zooms and wide-angle lenses – and this approach to filmmaking has been there since the very beginning. From the existential themes he explores to the cinematic choices he makes, his unique perspective gives his films a tonal quality that feels distinctly his own. So let’s look at Lanthimos’ films - from Kinetta, Dogtooth, and Alps to The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and The Favourite - to see how Poor Things can not only be viewed as an evolution of his process, but also a continuation of his style.

//CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
04:00 Developing His Style
08:40 Kinetta, Dogtooth, Alps
10:05 The Lobster
10:49 The Killing of a Sacred Deer
13:06 The Favourite
17:13 Poor Things

//SOURCES
KINETTA
DOGTOOTH - Dogtooth (2009) - Interview with director Yorgos Lanthimos
ALPS - Göteborg Film Festival 2012 - Master Class Yorgos Lanthimos
THE LOBSTER - Thimios Bakatakis / The Lobster - British Cinematographer, The Lobster Press Conference | NYFF53
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER - ASC Magazine (March 2018), DP Robbie Ryan BSC ISC The Favourite Interview | Kodak, Why The Killing of a Sacred Deer Was Shot on Film | Kodak, The Killing of a Sacred Deer Q&A | TIFF 2017, The Killing of a Sacred Deer | Film4 Interview
THE FAVOURITE - ASC Magazine (December 2018), The Favourite Press Conference | NYFF56, Designing Sound Interview: Johnnie Burn on Creating the Sound for The Favourite, Soundworks: The Sound of The Favourite with Johnnie Burn, SAG-AFTRA Conversations with The Favourite, Academy Conversations: The Favourite, A Conversation with Yorgos Lanthimos | Film at Lincoln Center, Director Yorgos Lanthimos on Why He Shoots Film | Kodak
POOR THINGS - ASC Magazine (January 2024), Interview: Cinematographer Robbie Ryan on Using Ektachrome to Shoot ‘Poor Things’ and the Happy Accident That Made for a Perfect Shot - AwardsWatch, Cinematographer Robbie Ryan: Director Yorgos Lanthimos Worked Crafts Magic on 'Poor Things', Poor Things Director Yorgos Lanthimos on His Boldest Vision Yet | NYFF61, Poor Things Cast Interview | Rotten Tomatoes, Yorgos Lanthimos & the Creative Team on Poor Things | NYFF61, Tonebenders: Poor Things with Johnnie Burn, Robert Downey Jr. & Mark Ruffalo | Actors on Actors, Emma Stone & Bradley Cooper | Actors on Actors, Poor Things Crew Interview | NYFF61, Poor Things: Shot on Kodak Film, The Music of Poor Things | The DolbyInstitute Podcast, Poor Things Interview with Robbie Ryan | Variety, FRED’s Interview: Yorgos Lanthimos and Robbie Ryan, Interview with Robbie Ryan | Screen Rant, ASC Clubhouse Conversations - Poor Things, Ari Aster & Yorgos Lanthimos | Directors on Directors

//MUSIC
Abroad Again by Jeremy Blake
W.A. Mozart, Symphony No. 38 in D Major by A Far Cry
Never Play by Jeremy Blake

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