Poor Things

An unorthodox scientist revives a young woman, bringing her back to life with more questions than answers. Bella Baxter, newly animated, travels with a clever lawyer as they cross continents in a fast paced, offbeat odyssey. Free from the prejudices of her era, she asserts her own ideas about autonomy, equality, and what it means to be human. The story blends science fiction with romance and biting wit, turning a medical marvel into a lens on social norms. Along the way, Bella tests boundaries of desire, power, and institutions, provoking both laughter and reflection while she pursues a purpose that challenges convention. The tone straddles whimsy and sharp social critique, reveling in absurd details.

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things adapts the novel by Alasdair Gray with Tony McNamara shaping the screenplay. The 2023 release brings Lanthimos's signature absurd humor and visual flair to a fusion of romance and science fiction and stylish design.

The film earned nominations at several major awards, highlighting Lanthimos's daring direction and Emma Stone's performance as Bella Baxter. Its craft drew praise from critics and industry peers for inventive production design, tonal balance, and provocative ideas about gender and autonomy.

Its striking visuals and audacious premise have sparked conversations about how society imagines body, agency, and power. The film's mix of whimsy and critique invites discussion beyond the cinema, influencing fashion, academic debates, and fans analyzing its satirical take on Victorian mores, with discussions spilling into panels and classrooms everywhere.

Critics praised its bold tone and moral questions; at heart it explores liberation, consent, and the cost of progress, wrapped in Lanthimos's deadpan humor and experimental style. The result is uneven but uniquely striking, a film that provokes dialogue as much as it amuses, long after the credits roll.