Poor fellows are the Golden Lion in Venice 80: when he comes out, he plots

Pgender things (Poor creatures!) Golden Lion of the Venice Film Festival.Issue 80. Film Yorgos Lanthimos – the third time for the Greek director in Venice subsequently Alps AND Favorite – immediately received great recognition. Everyone liked it, both the press and the public, who, together with the fans, immediately played it. Emma Stone – absent due to SAG-Aftra strike – among five contenders for the 2024 Oscars (we’ll see and see if it goes like it did with Olivia Colman, the winner Favorite).

Poor things: plot of the film The Golden Lion

And why Poor things did you like it that much? ‘Cause it’s really hard to resist Bella Baxter this young woman brought back to life by scientists Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), creator of Fantastic Animal Farm. Especially when the film amplifies the fantastic by introducing a romantic comedy, sabotaging a bizarre female emancipation that is also a sex party, winning – atypically for festival films – the task of entertainment.

Yorgos, along with Tony McNamara, with whom he co-wrote the script, exploits every ironic ploy, man-woman stalemate, literal language and double meaning. in an irresistible cascade of sympathy. Which turns Bella into one of the most memorable movie characters, the oddball passing by. Frankenstein to Pretty Woman, from a prisoner of the house and people to a freethinker. The one who, without remembering anything, from the river where she was caught, engaged in self-education and at the same time experimenting with socialist activism, happiness is invented.

All this to the detriment of Mark Ruffolo (Duncan Wedderburn), a seduced lawyer who, by offering her a grand tour, gives her the key to the world.

Similar to Alasdair Gray’s book of the same name. (released in 1992), on which the film is based, a book that combines written texts, illustrations and other documents in Gothic and Victorian styles, Yorgos constructs a lunar and explosive mythological era. Which depicts in black and white, color and distorts it with fisheye lenses. Fun for those who love 3D books, add-ons, doors within doors; less for those intolerant of style exercises.

Yet, even with its ornate exuberance, the film has an exemplary quality that is hard to ignore. Multi-layered narrative arc. And the evolution of a wonderful character. After all, you almost can’t believe the starting point, the Bella/Emma who looked like Helen Keller from Anna of Wonders.

Actors

Emma Stone (Bella Baxter). Mark Ruffalo (Duncan Wedderburn). Willem Dafoe (Godwin Baxter). Ramy Youssef (Max McCandless). Christopher Abbott (Alfie Blessington). Susie Bemba (Toinette). Jerrod Carmichael (Harry Astley). Katherine Hunter (Sweeney). Vicky Pepperdine (Mrs. Prim). Margaret Qualley (Felicity). Hanna Schygulla (Martha von Kurzrock).

Poor things. When will it be released in cinemas?

Italian release Poor things (Poor creatures!) is scheduled for January 25, 2024.. Could a Golden Lion win at Venice 80 create some anticipation? Maybe. However, there is only one thing left to do: wait for a possible announcement.

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