‘Dogtooth’ director: My new movie will be darker and more extreme
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Yorgos Lanthimos, the Greek director of the film ‘Dogtooth’ -- about a couple who imprison and torture their children -- created waves when his movie was released last year. Some critics shook their heads at the film’s explicitness and (very) black comedy, and many theaters wouldn’t book it. The motion picture academy surprised many when it nominated the movie for an Oscar.
Turns out Lanthimos isn’t done yet.
The filmmaker tells 24 Frames he’s just completed a new movie that could make ‘Dogtooth’ look like, well, ‘Air Bud.’ Titled ‘Alps,’ it centers on a group of people who agree to stand in for others’ lost loved ones , replicating their behavior and gestures to help with the mourners’ grieving. (Think pet owners who stuff their animals, only with people.)
‘It’s darker and funnier. It goes to each extreme a little bit more,’ Lanthimos said. Aggeliki Papoulia, who plays one of the daughters in ‘Dogtooth,’ also stars in the new film.
Lanthimos is editing ‘Alps’ now and hopes to have it ready in time for this year’s edition of the Cannes film festival, where ‘Dogtooth’ launched and won a prize in 2009. Get your umbrella ready.
--Steven Zeitchik
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