Poor Things
it’s really hard for me to explain the reasons why i loved this movie and, at the same time, to understand how anyone could hate it.
from the very first frame i was completely absorbed by how beautiful and artistic the cinematography was.
the colors, the costumes, the black and white scenes… every moment looked like a painting.
never excessive, but also never minimal.
it was clear that the director had such great taste and always knew exactly what he was doing.
i honestly think this is some of my favorite direction ever. i just couldn’t help but keep thinking about how stunning and unique the style was.
the cast was also amazing. willem dafoe was perfect in his role, mark ruffalo was as brilliant as he was outrageous (in the best possible way), but especially emma stone. outstanding.
bella’s character was so complex and she did an incredible job, absolutely deserving the oscar for best actress. she managed, with only her body language or even just the expressions in her eyes, to make perfectly clear at what stage bella’s growth and awareness were, or what emotions she was feeling.
then, there were the themes and message.
from the very beginning there are so many references to history and art periods, to photography, classic cinema and later on to philosophy, literature, and poetry.
along with bella’s growth we followed every step into the world she had never had the chance to know before. she discovers sex, arts, food, and then the cruelty of the world: social inequality, pain, injustice, politics…
and when she sees the darkest and worst parts of society she has one dream:
to make the world a better place.
but as harry (the nihilist) says to bella…
bella baxter: “if i know the world i can improve it.”
harry astley: “you can’t. this is the real point.
don’t accept the lie of religion, socialism, capitalism. we are a fucked species. know it.
hope is smashable, realism is not. protect yourself with the truth.”
and doesn’t the ending just prove he’s right?
yes, bella has grown, she has somehow taken god’s place. but even if she was once so close to the injustices of the world, now she just seems to be part of that system. there’s still felicity in the house and she allows it. she has given up on her dream for a better world and she didn’t change anything, really.
it’s the most pessimistic ending, but also realistic.
because bella, no matter how unique and optimistic, is still human, and so, fucked up.
is there really hope for this world?
swiney: “…we must experience everything. not just the good, but degradation, horror, sadness. this makes us whole, bella, makes us people of substance. not flighty, untouched children. then we can know the world. *and when we know the world, the world is ours.”
*
so these are some of the reasons why i liked, no, loved, this movie. i like to think that the people who hated it just misunderstood it.
although i understand that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
it’s brutal, raw, graphic, and pessimistic.
it’s human. but it’s mostly about that part of humanity many people haven’t acknowledged yet, or maybe never will. because it’s hard to. it’s dark.
and real.
finally, a big thank you to yorgos lanthimos for giving us this masterpiece.
(he didn’t win an oscar for best director or best picture… i’m not sure i agree with that.
he lost both against oppenheimer and don’t get me wrong, i like nolan too but… i don’t know. i feel like people need to understand there’s more than just him.
and that, yes, he’s very good, but not necessarily the best. i think he’s so loved and idolized because his movies are accessible but just a bit above what people are used to seeing, so they feel special and smart for understanding them.
just my opinion x)
anyway, this felt perfect.