Their Public Debut at the Venice Film Festival

Jennifer Lawrence and director Darren Aronofsky have been dating for almost a year, since filming wrapped on their upcoming movie mother! — but you’d never know it due to their admirable efforts in avoiding being photographed next to each other at all times.

The two are well into promotion for the provocative thriller, out Sept. 15, and have so far hilariously and strategically dodged every opportunity to be photographed side by side. This is largely thanks to costar Michelle Pfeiffer, who they have clearly commandereed as a buffer.

The legendary actress first appeared as the token third wheel at the mother! press conference at the Venice Film Festival — and it wouldn’t be the last time she did so.

Click through for all the ways these two have avoided posing next to each other.

02 of 09The Pfeiffer Strikes Again

David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Pfeiffer re-assumed her role again later that evening for the Venice premiere of the movie. Lawrence and Aronofsky posed with every person of the cast on the red carpet — except each other.

This action shot is the closest we got to Lawrence and Aronofsky appearing in a picture next to each other on a read carpet. Too bad the director wasn’t two steps slower so they would actually end up side by side.

The Venice Film Fest outing comes a year after Lawrence and Aronofsky were first spotted together enjoying lunch last August after working on mother!.

“They have a very good relationship that is serious in the sense that they are on the same wavelength,” a source close to Lawrence previously told PEOPLE. “They respect each other in the most important ways and have many of the same interests. She is comfortable with him and in awe of his brilliance and talent.”

Who would’ve thought seeing Michelle Pfeiffer looking incredible in a gorgeous dress would actually get annoying? She is way too good at this buffer job.

Finally Pfeiffer gets a break while Javier Bardem (and his empty chair above) step in to sit between them for the film’s screening.

The movie, meanwhile, is getting rave reviews as audiences and critics are taken with Aronofsky’s bizarre journey.

06 of 09Fresh Buffer BloodJohn Phillips/Getty

Moving over to the London premiere, Aronofsky and Lawrence employed Domhnall Gleeson to stand between them.

The actor has one of the most memorable performances in a movie full of them, and clearly seems happy taking over for Pfeiffer here.

07 of 09…But Seriously Look at This DressDavid Fisher/Shutterstock; Richard Young/Shutterstock

No Aronofsky in sight here, just taking a moment to appreciate this stunning dress. Lawrence pulled together one of her best looks to date in this slinky, silver, sheer and very sexy Atelier Versace dress.

No buffer here! Just a two-foot gap between the director and the actress at the Toronto International Film Festival press conference for the film. Hey, at least it’s something.

Lawrence took this opportunity to praise Aronofsky — and also question his sanity.

“He told me his ideas and I thought they were brilliant and unique and challenging,” she said. “I’ve been a fan of his for years — I think he’s bold and brave, and I think I said brilliant,”

She continued, “I’ve been a fan, so once he told me the ideas floating around in his head I said yes. Then I got a script and when I read it I threw it across the room and told him he had severe psychological problems. But it’s a masterpiece.”

After days of anguish, Lawrence and Aronofsky finally posed together at the New York premiere of the film at Radio City Music Hall.

The actress chatted with PEOPLE at the premiere after posing with Aronofsky and revealed what she loves most about him.

“That’s what I’ve always loved about him,” she says of his willingness to push boundaries. “I was such a huge fan of all of his work. I just think he’s so bold and unafraid and that’s exactly what I saw. That’s exactly what I witnessed — even more so.”