Dogtooth – Yorgos Lanthimos retrospectief

Father, mother and their three children live on the outskirts of a town. Around the house is a high fence. The children have never been outside that fence. They are raised, entertained, bored and trained according to their parents’ rules, without any outside influence. The children believe that planes flying overhead are toys and zombies are yellow flowers. The only one allowed into the house is Christina, a security guard in father’s company. He arranges her visits to meet his son’s sexual needs. The whole family adores her, especially the eldest daughter. One day, Christina gives her a gift of a headband with stones that light up in the dark. She asks for something in return, though. The black comedy Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos (Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things, The Favourite, The Lobster) was awarded the Prix Un Certain Regard when it premiered at Cannes in 2009 and marked the international breakthrough for the Greek director: the film won no fewer than 20 international awards and was nominated for an Oscar.