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Yorgos Lanthimos, the renowned filmmaker behind cinematic gems such as The Favourite and Poor Things, has launched his second photography publication – I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully.
Released by Mack in late 2024, this hardbound coffee table book, wrapped in linen, delivers an ethereal visual journey influenced by Lanthimos’ unique, suspenseful style – an aesthetic that has consistently enchanted viewers in his films.
The publication consists of numerous images captured in New Orleans during the filming of Lanthimos’ latest project, Kinds of Kindness, featuring a stellar ensemble that includes Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons, and Hunter Schafer.
However, the visuals in I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully are not merely glimpses behind the scenes of a film. Instead, Lanthimos weaves a distinct narrative within these images, existing in the nuanced realm between actuality and creativity.
This isn’t Lanthimos’ inaugural venture into photography books; in early 2024, he introduced his first monograph, Dear God, the Parthenon is Still Broken – a stunning compilation of visuals taken on the set of Poor Things.
That book, a collaboration with actress Emma Stone, signaled the onset of a fresh creative exploration for Lanthimos, merging his film-making artistry with intimate, dreamlike imagery. This partnership and technique persist in I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully.
All images were captured in 2022, in and around New Orleans. An undeniable noir influence permeates the work, resonating with the literary style of Raymond Chandler and the photography of Henry Wessel.
The contrast between New Orleans’ vibrant avenues and an underlying eeriness produces a sensation that is simultaneously familiar and unusual, imbued with a sense of foreboding seldom linked with the region. This sentiment has evolved into a distinctive feature of his cinematic approach, effortlessly transitioning from screen to page.
There is something profoundly evocative about how Lanthimos traverses the uncanny and the ordinary in his visuals; just like his films, his photographs linger in the realms of absurdity and sorrow.
In I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully, this tension remains palpable. The streets of New Orleans are cloaked in both light and darkness, morphing into a backdrop for a narrative that feels both eternal and modern.
While not explicitly mentioned in the promotional material, in his earlier project, Lanthimos disclosed his preference for utilizing an 8×10 film camera. This choice contributes to the tranquillity and tension inherent in each photograph.
There is a deliberate quality to the compositions that delicately balances location, character, and viewer. Ultimately, this is the sensation of gazing through a window into Lanthimos’ universe – observing a reality that feels just beyond reach.
Numerous characters in the book are frequently framed from behind or captured in momentary glimpses, instilling a sense of intrigue and enigma. These visuals demand a second, or even third, observation, with each viewing revealing new facets of meaning and emotion.
The title of the book is derived from a composition by Sappho, whose fragmented verses reflect the narrative structure of the book, allowing space for interpretation and contemplation.
The essence of I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully lies in its capacity to exist independently, separate from the film it was associated with.
While the pictures initially formed part of Lanthimos’ process in constructing the world of Kinds of Kindness, the book metamorphoses them into a distinctive visual tale that transcends the confines of the film. It is not merely a companion piece but a standalone narrative.
Lanthimos is primarily a narrator; his images, akin to his films, prompt us to reflect and ponder. A sense of liminality pervades how these visuals materialize, with a storytelling pathway never fully unveiled but lingering in the conscience, demanding increased attention. His skill in transposing this approach to still images is unparalleled in the contemporary photography realm.
With a price of £35 in the UK and $40 in the US, I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully by Yorgos Lanthimos is published by Mack and is currently available. This is a volume that beckons to be savored slowly, with each image unveiling layers of meaning and emotion, leaving you with more inquiries than resolutions.
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Explore my article regarding Lanthimos’ earlier publication Dear God, the Parthenon is still Broken, along with our guide to the finest coffee table books.
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