In "The Lobster" how much of original human mind is left after transformation?

In The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015) people who can't find a romantic pair in 45 days are transformed into animals. There is a transformation room where supposedly people are transformed.. But the details mentioned are only rumours and the actual procedure is kept secret. Is there any clue in the movie indicating whether any of the original human characteristics are transferred to the animal? For instance, the Colin Farrell's dog shows any sign of being his brother? I wonder how much of human could be transfered into a lobster.. none of it I suppose.

plot-explanation the-lobster

Best Answer

Is there any clue in the movie indicating whether any of the original human characteristics are transferred to the animal?

The only characteristic that's hinted at in the film is compassion/love.

At one point, The Limping Man comments about how his parents were turned into wolves and then later placed in captivity. He eventually goes to visit them and tries to determine which of the wolves are his parents by jumping in the cage with all the other wolves, with the idea that his parents wouldn't attack him. There were in fact two wolves that didn't attack him, which he then believed to be his parents.

Of course, this is a [relatively] completely arbitrary and non-reliable way of trying to determine if any of those wolves were really his parents. However, again, this is the only time that a characteristic of a person with respect to after they've been transformed into an animal is mentioned.

In my opinion though, after giving the film much thought and consideration since I've seen it, I don't believe the people are actually turned into animals.