Poor creatures! (original name: Poor things), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, received the Golden Lion for Best Film in Venice. The film, starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, William Dafoe and Ramy Yousif, is an adaptation of the 1992 novel of the same name written by Alasdair Gray.
In a dystopian and surreal reality, in the gray and gloomy nineteenth century, events revolve around Doctor Godwin Baxter and Bella, the young woman he brought back to life. The Doctor considers Bella his creation and would like to protect her from the dangers of the world; that’s why he keeps her locked in his extravagant house. But the creature is extremely curious: he discovers sex, pleasure and a thirst for adventure and, having met the lawyer Duncan Wedderbun, decides to take him on a journey across continents to discover the freedom that he has never had before. managed to try it.
Emma Stone’s performance is both sublime and hilarious, and is probably one of the bravest of her career, as the role certainly tested her both physically and mentally. Bella essentially committed suicide in her past life by throwing herself off a bridge, but there was nothing left of the woman who had previously inhabited her body.
Thus, Bella is reborn, experiences and grows day by day, becoming more and more a woman aware and in control of her life.
Lanthimos gives us a tale that is at times disturbing, irreverent and provocative. He removes all taboos, turning sex into an engine that allows Bella to explore the world and herself, and also helps her find herself.
Bella is a completely daring, passionate character, without fear or any disinhibition. She doesn’t care about social conventions because she doesn’t know what they are and for that reason she is absolutely free.
Poor things This is a direct and unparalleled film with masterful photography and a script that amazes and captivates until the very end. Lanthimos’s penchant for the macabre also shines through in this latest extraordinary product. In fact, Bella will have to face very vile and creepy individuals, but at the same time she will never lose her innocence and desire to explore the world. He enjoys every moment of life, crushes every person in his path in the universe without fear or shame.
The directing is incredibly captivating, with wide angles, extreme long shots and a ghostly atmosphere in black and white or sparkling and glittering combinations with vibrant colors. Poor things it is a concentration of stunning beauty and, most likely, the big surprise of Venice in the 80s.
Anna Sofia Kaira
film criticism