In the collaborative vision of Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Bella Baxter (played by Stone) undergoes an extraordinary journey of rebirth and enlightenment. Stirred to life by the unorthodox genius of Dr. Godwin Baxter (personified by Willem Dafoe), Bella’s thirst for enlightenment propels her into the embrace of Duncan Wedderburn (embodied by Mark Ruffalo), a charismatic yet ethically complex legal practitioner. Together, they traverse continents in a whirlwind of adventure, defiantly challenging the conventions and biases of their era. As Bella immerses herself in worldly experiences, she emerges as a stalwart symbol of fortitude and advocacy, unbound by temporal constraints, she fervently champions the causes of equality and emancipation. Her metamorphosis from a seeker of wisdom to an unwavering agent of change is what makes Poor Things such a captivating cinematic experience.
Director
Yorgos Lanthimos, born in Athens, Greece on September 23, 1973, boasts a diverse body of work spanning from dance videos and commercials to acclaimed feature films. His debut KINETTA garnered praise at prestigious festivals like Toronto and Berlin. DOGTOOTH, his second film, claimed the Un Certain Regard Prize at Cannes in 2009 and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 2011. Following this success, ALPS won the Osella for Best Screenplay at the 2011 Venice Film Festival. Lanthimos’s English-language debut, THE LOBSTER, captivated audiences at Cannes, winning the Jury Prize and earning accolades at the European Film Awards.
In 2017, Lanthimos wowed audiences with THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, which won Best Screenplay at Cannes and garnered numerous nominations at the European Film Academy Awards. His 2018 effort, THE FAVOURITE, starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz, swept award circuits, including a Golden Globe for Colman and multiple wins at the BAFTAs. And now, Lanthimos’s latest triumph, POOR THINGS, secured the Golden Lion at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and propelled Emma Stone to acclaim with wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Academy Awards. The film also earned Academy Awards for its outstanding hair and makeup, costume design, and production.
