Alpis

Lanthimos' exploration of cryptic and unnatural doings follows a secret society (called the Alps) consisting of a hospital night nurse, a gym coach, a gymnast, and the group’s leader, a paramedic. The Alps offer a unique service: the recently bereaved can hire them for a few hours a week to act as surrogates for the deceased loved ones – by wearing their clothes, adopting their mannerisms and way of speaking – in order to help them adjust to their loss. With a disjointed and fragmentary narrative, Lanthimos creates a more severe, outwardly colder film than his previous ones – but it’s just as warped and absurdly funny. (Film at Lincoln Center)