Poor Things

Yorgos Lanthimos’s new film scathingly ridicules patriarchy and liberal ideas of progress in a highly stylised manner.

Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) takes to the dancefloor in Poor Things (Searchlight Pictures).

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This post is part of the ‘One Take’ weekly series analysing the politics of a film currently showing at the cinemas.

Content warning: Suicide; Misogyny; Child abuse; Ableism.

Note: Given that, at time of writing, Poor Things is still showing in UK cinemas, this analysis only lays out as much of the film’s scenario as is necessary so as to avoid spoilers. It is therefore suitable to be read either before or after watching the film, while hopefully still enriching the viewer’s appreciation of it either way.