The Lobster is a surreal 2015 film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos that takes place in an alternate reality where single people are given 45 days to find a romantic partner or be turned into an animal of their choice. Starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz the dark comedy was filmed on location in Ireland, primarily across counties Kerry Clare, and Dublin.
Overview of The Lobster’s Plot and Tone
In The Lobster, David (played by Colin Farrell) checks into a hotel after his wife leaves him for another man. At the hotel, he has 45 days to find a new partner or he will be transformed into an animal of his choosing – in David’s case, a lobster. The hotel guests attend dances and are matched up based on having superficial things in common. However, David struggles to find a match and eventually flees into the woods where he joins a group of “Loners” who are not coupled up Among the Loners, he develops feelings for a Short-Sighted Woman (Rachel Weisz) which is forbidden They escape the Loners and pretend to be a couple when they visit the city together.
With its deadpan tone, stilted dialogue, and absurd premise, The Lobster presents an off-kilter view of relationships, conformity, loneliness, and what it means to be human. The melancholy mood is punctuated by moments of dark humor and strangeness. The movie asks us to look critically at the rituals of dating, our desire for companionship, and social pressures.
Filming Locations in Ireland’s Southwest
The surreal tone of The Lobster is enhanced by its primary filming location: Ireland’s rugged southwest coast.
The Parknasilla Resort & Spa
The exterior of the hotel where the single people stay is the Parknasilla Resort & Spa in Sneem, County Kerry. Set on an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, Parknasilla provided scenic coastal views and lush green landscapes. Shots of the characters wandering the grounds and swimming pool scenes were filmed at the 4-star hotel and spa.
The Eccles Hotel
While Parknasilla offered up exterior shots, the interiors of the hotel were primarily filmed about 90 miles east at the Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff, County Cork. The Eccles, situated on Glengarriff Harbour, provided interior shots for the first 60 minutes of the movie during which David settles into the hotel routine.
Dromore Woods
When David flees the hotel and joins the Loners living in seclusion in the woods, these scenes were filmed at the Dromore Woods Nature Reserve in County Clare. Covering nearly 1,000 acres, Dromore Woods provided remote forest scenes and trails beside lakes.
City Scenes Shot in Dublin
In addition to coastal hotels and woodland areas, The Lobster also features some scenes set in an anonymous metropolis referred to only as “the city.”
Blanchardstown Shopping Centre
David and the Short-Sighted Woman visit a shopping center in the city where they pretend to be a couple. These scenes were filmed at the massive Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin.
Dublin Docklands
After the shopping center, scenes of The Loners walking city streets were filmed in the modern Dublin Docklands area. Nearby Chimney Park and Lazer Lane offered the generic cityscape the film aimed for.
Joel’s Restaurant
Later, when David and the Short-Sighted Woman escape to the city, they have dinner at Joel’s Restaurant, located on the outskirts of Dublin near a busy road. Its contemporary look provided the perfect location for their secret date.
How The Locations Enhanced The Film
The surreal premise of The Lobster comes to life through the juxtaposition of idyllic rural hotels and woods with the regimented, hyper-modern cityscapes of Dublin. The gorgeous scenery of Kerry and Clare provide an ironic backdrop to the dark practices occurring at the hotels. And the cold aesthetics of Dublin emphasize the alienation felt by the characters. The locations both ground the film in reality and heighten the absurdity of its fictional world.
Visiting The Lobster Filming Sites in Ireland
Fans of the eccentric film can visit many of the locations that feature prominently:
- Stay at the Parknasilla Resort & Spa and explore Sneem, Kerry
- Check into the historic Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff, Cork
- Hike the trails of Dromore Woods in Clare
- Shop and explore modern architecture in Dublin Docklands
- Have a uniquely memorable meal at Joel’s Restaurant
Where was The Lobster Filmed?
The Lobster was filmed in 5 Lazer Ln, Blanchardstown Centre, Chimney Park, Dromore Woods, Eccles Hotel, Grand Canal Dock, Joels Restaurant and Parknasilla Resort & Spa.
The complete list of the locations with latitude and longitude coordinates are listed below in the table.
“The Lobster” (2015) Explained
FAQ
Where was The Lobster movie filmed?
The Lobster was shot in Ireland. The interior scenes of the hotel took place at The Eccles Hotel, which is located at Harbour, Reenmeen East, Glengarriff, Co. Cork, Ireland, while the city scenes were filmed in Dublin.
Why do they go to the hotel in The Lobster?
In a dystopian near future, according to the laws of The City, single people are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days or they’re transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods.
What is the hunt in the movie The Lobster?
In this hotel, loners hunt for other runaway loners (who reside in the forest) to extend their days as humans ” “A loner being guilty” is a strict social norm in “The Lobster.”. Loners are discriminated against and even killed.
Who shot the donkey in The Lobster?
The Lobster (2015) – Jacqueline Abrahams as Donkey Shooter – IMDb.
Where was the lobster filmed?
The green leather booths and tall windows are perfect for this film, the movie locations and aesthetics throughout The Lobster are absolutely spot on. Those are all The Lobster filming locations in Ireland! Have you watched The Lobster or planning a trip to Ireland?
Which hotel was used in ‘the lobster’?
Two hotels were utilised to create the perfect setting in which to host these emotionless single people. Eccles Hotel in County Cork provided most of the interiors of the ‘Hotel’ where David checks into. And the hotel scenes take up the entire first half/one hour of The Lobster. Looks like quite a nice hotel to stay in, to be honest!
Who are the actors in ‘the lobster’?
The Lobster is a 2015 absurdist black comedy drama film directed and co-produced by Yorgos Lanthimos, from a screenplay by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou. It stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Olivia Colman, Ashley Jensen, Ariane Labed, Angeliki Papoulia, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Michael Smiley, and Ben Whishaw.
Where was ‘Loners’ filmed?
Most of the hotel’s interiors, though, were filmed in the Eccles Hotel Glengarriff, Glengarriff Harbour, on the N71, about 15 miles to the southeast of Sneem. ‘Loners’ who escape before being transformed live in the surrounding woods where, perversely, they’re not allowed to form relationships.
Where can I find the lobster in Ireland?
Parknasilla Resort & Spa, Derryquin, Parknasilla, County Kerry, V93 EK71 And the next The Lobster location is the Parknasilla Resort & Spa in County Kerry, a whole county over from the Eccles Hotel. Again, a rather lovely hotel with a nice lake out front.
Is ‘the lobster’ a good movie?
Yes, only slightly. But we like weird here on Almost Ginger. And when you’re throwing in The Lobster movie locations which include beautiful hotels in County Cork and County Kerry and the stunning Irish countryside, it makes for a fantastic viewing experience.