Alps
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos · 2011
Life is about finding ways to cope with loss and the connections we maintain with those who are gone.
"Alps" invites viewers into a haunting exploration of grief and identity, where the boundaries of life and death blur through the unsettling practice of role-playing the deceased. With its melancholic tone and contemplative pacing, this film challenges our understanding of mourning and the human condition.
A night nurse in a hospital provides special services to families who have recently lost their loved ones. She is a member of a group called the Alps, whose members offer, for a fee, to play recently deceased during visits of their grieving relatives.
Talking points
- the ethics of grief
- the nature of identity in loss
- the role of performance in human connection
- the impact of societal norms on personal grief
