Dogtooth

| 2009

Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos

Main Plot

"Dogtooth," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, is a Greek psychological drama that explores the extreme measures taken by overprotective parents to shield their children from the outside world. The story centers on a father who keeps his three adult children confined within their secluded family compound, instilling in them a distorted reality through fabricated stories and misinformation. The siblings are led to believe that they can only leave the property once they lose a "dogtooth," a milestone that never actually occurs. The parents' strict control and bizarre rules create a surreal and oppressive environment. As the children grow older, their curiosity and desire for independence begin to clash with the constructed reality, leading to unsettling and dramatic consequences. The film delves into themes of control, innocence, and the impact of isolation on human behavior.

Characters

  • Christos Stergioglou plays the controlling father who isolates his children from the outside world, creating a distorted reality to maintain power over them.
  • Michele Valley plays the Mother, who, alongside her husband, enforces strict isolation and bizarre rules on their children to control and manipulate their perception of the outside world.
  • Angeliki Papoulia plays the eldest daughter, who begins to question her parents' oppressive control, ultimately challenging the family's isolated and manipulated reality.

Ending Explained

In the film "Dogtooth," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the conclusion is marked by a dramatic and ambiguous turn of events. The story revolves around a highly controlled and isolated family where the parents have confined their three adult children within their property, manipulating their understanding of the world. As the film progresses, the eldest daughter becomes increasingly curious and rebellious. In the climactic ending, she knocks out one of her own teeth with a dumbbell, believing this act will grant her the independence to leave the compound, as her parents have conditioned her to think she can only leave once she loses a "dogtooth." She then hides in the trunk of her father's car, which he drives to work the next day. The film concludes with the father discovering the missing tooth and frantically searching for her, while the camera lingers on the closed trunk, leaving her fate unresolved. This ambiguous ending underscores the themes of control, freedom, and the psychological impact of extreme isolation, leaving viewers to ponder the consequences of her potential escape and the future of the remaining family members.

Yorgos Lanthimos Drama Thriller Christos Stergioglou Michele Valley Angeliki Papoulia