Film Studies: Research on theories and films and their context
Topic ideas:
- A textual analysis and application of Jacques Lacan theory of lack and the mirror stage to the films of Yorgos Lanthimos - Dogtooth, The Lobster, The Favourite
Dogtooth:
Family structure - the father is the only member of the family to leave the home to provide for his family while the others must remain in the walls of their home.
The development of language - linked to psychological development
Mirror stage - mirrors are often seen within the film, within the first scene of the film, the siblings are in the bathroom listen to the tapes that their mother and father have created to teach them words and their meanings. A mid shot shows the oldest sibling sitting with her back to the mirror - this links to her development because she has had a bizarre upbringing where she hasn't been able to make the usual connection between her inner self and outer self though this is developed as she tests the boundaries and takes it upon herself to remove her 'dogtooth' herself through self mutilation which she does whilst looking in the same mirror that we see her facing away from in the beginning of the film.
The mirror theory is demonstrated through the metaphor of the 'dog tooth' as the children are told that only when their dogtooth falls out are they then ready to venture in to the outside world. As a viewer we are aware that this entirely unrealistic because adult teeth are not known to just fall out unless it happens in an accident. Therefore the 'dogtooth' is a symbol of something that they will never achieve and they are condemned to misery in the compound of their own home. This is similar to Lacan's theory of lack and that we will always desire something but even when/if this desire is met there will be something else that we desire therefore we will never truly be satisfied.
Dogtooth notes:
Words - the children learn new words through the use of a recorded tape, the words they learn do not resemble the true meanings - their world is already distorted - links to development
We see the father drive a woman wearing security uniform to a very secluded place - this is where the majority of the film takes place and is the family’s home
Brother is seen using weights before the security guard arrives - he shares the idea that men have to be strong to seduce women
When the brother is having sex with the security guard it is shot from above - similar to a scene where we see the parents having sex, which demonstrates patriarchal dominance within the family
Their purpose is to compete against each other to prove their worth to their parents - links to Lacan theory because they will never reach the top position or at least remain the ‘best child’ because they are competing everyday in order to impress their parents and to be able to make decisions about how the family spend their evening
The siblings play childlike games
Freud talks about ‘penis envy’ - relates to power structures within society and in Dogtooth this relates to the family structure.
The family in Dogtooth is lead by a patriarchal figure - the father
Throughout the film there is questioning of the structure of the family, usually in males we see them looking up to their father and wanting to be like them or even in some cases stronger than them. This is also illustrated in women when they look up to their fathers and wonder why they can never become the ‘head’ of the family. In Dogtooth it is the eldest female sibling who rebels against her family or the ‘society’ she has been raised in. She becomes more curious about the things that they have been taught and is fascinated by the security guard who comes to visit the family - she doesn’t have any other interactions outside of the family besides this one. She learns behaviour from the security guard to bargain with people, offering them a prize in return for them doing a favour. In this case the security guard is bargaining with the older sister in order to gain sexual pleasure. The older sister copies this and bargains with her sister, asking her to lick her on the stomach and other areas of her body in order for a prize to be won.
Freud Oedipal complex
Lacan suggests that the oedipal stage is more about the need to obey the father rather than dominate father, father represents the paternal metaphor
Family represents a hierarchal patriotic structure and this is also seen in society as the child gets older and leaves the family and joins greater society
In dogtooth the phobia is entirely constructed through the paternal figure with help fro the mother. The greatest fear lies in the outside world, the father brainwashes his children with stories of the dangers that lurk outside of their home
The family structure is surrounded by this idea of fear and phobia of what lies waiting for them in the outside world and this is done through patriarchal force
Family - focuses on their interactions and the power struggles within the family. The dogtooth is a metaphor for their freedom although it can never be achieved
The idea of their ‘unseen brother’ who the father uses to instil fear in to the children and he even fakes his death
At the beginning of the film we are introduced to three children within the family listening to a tape recorded by their mother. She is delivering words and their definitions - sea is a leather armchair with arms - this shows they are being brainwashed by signifiers with imaginary meanings
He gives punishment to the children and creates the competition between them
Dog training - shows the father’s parenting - poses the question ‘do you want an animal or a friend?’
False narrative - the made up stories
Mother is the voice of reason - tells children the meaning of words if they ask
The son is the middle child but is raised to the top of the children’s hierarchy
Son hasn’t developed sexuality - awkward and childlike, the father could be doing this to create the ideal heterosexual figure for his family or Freud would argue that this is to control the desire that the son has for his mother
Airplane is a symbol of freedom - the siblings constantly fight over it
Eldest sister says she wants to be called Bruce - could this be because she has recognised the patriarchal force in her family and understands that if she goes by a male name then she can be viewed as being a strong figure ?
Lack is in the form of the ‘dogtooth’ metaphor
Lack - the sisters because they will never become the head of the family simply because they are female
Lack - to be the best sibling because the siblings are constantly in competition with one another - link to a scene where the family are listening to a piece of music and the father narrates over the top, telling the children what the words of the song mean because they are words they do not recognise
Odephius - greek myth of a son who said he would kill his father and marry his mother, freud develops this idea in his concept ‘the oedphius complex’ a stage in which he believes a child
The Favourite:
Queen Anne - her lack is the trauma of losing children and being alone yet when she has the choice of two female companions fighting over she still ultimately miserable and dying
Abigail - she wants to gain her status back but when she does she realises what she has committed herself to, she will always be a prisoner to the Queen if she wants to remain a lady
Bibliography:
(1) https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dogtooth-2010 (online)
(2) http://thebigpicturemagazine.com/a-dive-into-the-twisted-psychology-of-dogtooth/ (online)
(3) http://film-philosophy.com/conference/index.php/conf/2012/paper/viewPaper/212 (online)
(4) https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/apr/22/dogtooth-review (online)
(5) https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/film-review-dogtooth-1-800939 (online)
(6) https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/film-review-dogtooth-1-800939 (online)
(7) https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/vb354d/decoding-the-killing-of-a-sacred-deer-the-craziest-tragedy-of-2017 (online)
(8) https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/the-favourite-yorgos-lanthimos-olivia-colman-emma-stone-rachel-weisz (online)
(15) Dogtooth (2009)
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