The great triumph of “Poor Creatures” after the Oscars

Poor creatures became one of the most nominated films for the 2024 Oscars, despite its violent, over-the-top and delusional premise. Namely: a woman who comes back to life thanks to a brutal experiment, during which the brain of the child she was carrying was also transplanted. The story, based on the book of the same name by Alasdair Gray, came to the big screen on a monstrous scale that amazed audiences and critics. In addition, it caused all sorts of controversies around it. This makes it the kind of complex film that leaves its mark.

What the 2024 Oscars made clear. While Yorgos Lanthimos’s work didn’t win in the major categories, it did win in those that resembled some of the qualities that made it one of the feature films of the year. On the one hand, the visual world that the director created and which led him to receive much of the technical and cinematic parts.

At the other extreme is the ability of this outstanding aesthetic section to tell a deep story. This, even if imposed several times, is beyond Oppenheimer, a major favorite of the evening and subsequent film of the year. But Poor creatures, demonstrated that its strength as an off-the-lot experiment lies in its ability to be unique. Not only as an exploration of a coming-of-age story from an unexpected perspective—from the touching to the repulsive—but also as a type of cinema that rarely captures the Academy.

With episodes in which the main character, played by the brave Emma Stone, goes through the entire human experience. Poor creatures uncomfortable topics were touched upon. There are many more directly controversial ones, such as the right to life, misogyny and sexual liberation. But he didn’t do this just as part of his argument. Moreover, he explored them using all the means of cinematic language at his disposal.

From distorted fish-eye shots that reveal impossible skies, to Victorian London transformed into a steampunk landscape. Yorgos Lanthimos was keen to ensure that the film’s allegorical potential was more than just a curiosity to provoke debate in the press and confuse the public. As a result a film that makes a fresh impression in the midst of a more formal cinematic year.

Achieving “Poor Creatures” in a Year of Significant Forgetfulness

The film’s feat comes during an awards season when visual and narrative experiments have fallen flat. WITH Oppenheimer, an example of the sobriety and traditional sophistication that reigns in all awards, the other films had little chance. Tape type Area of ​​interestFilms that used technical resources to tell the intimate stories of genocides were ignored at the most popular awards ceremonies.

On the other hand, intimate works such as Past Liveswhich dealt with the nostalgia of analogue film were relegated to the authors’ discussions. The truth is that the big red carpets of 2024 celebrated the essence of cinema, which is most tied to tradition.

So Poor creatures surprised. With a female protagonist at the center of controversial scenes, as well as critical undertones about dominance and power, it is a satirical mockery of Western culture. But at the same time, it is an exploration of the desires of a society subject to its own prejudices. In a year where Barbie was completely ignored despite being a social phenomenon, the fact that Yorgos Lanthimos’ film is a success is a triumph on several levels. In particular, the film’s ability to be a direct critique of discriminatory and violent ideas.

With Emma Stone taking home the Oscar for Best Actress and the production team led by James Price, Shauna Heath and Zsuzsa Michalek doing the same, one thing is clear. Tony McNamara’s twisted universe was a triumph on screen, propelling the film beyond festivals and industry events. The film managed to explore the condition of women from a raw, cruel and even pessimistic point of view. It was in the same year that Barbie It dealt with similar themes and was considered boring, superficial, overly direct, or even just a display of production design.

“Poor Creatures” – a film for the ages

Accused of misogyny and pessimism, the twisted film defies easy explanation.. And, without a doubt, it is for this reason that his time during awards season was memorable, despite the difficulties he had to go through. Featuring nudity and explicit sex, a direct critique of discrimination and an unpleasant ending, the film is not an easy one. So the enthusiasm around it demonstrates that there is an audience for unusual arguments.

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One day, Poor creatures This film also gained more popularity than expected. Thus demonstrating that difficult topics also have a place in popular culture. In the season when Barbie was ignored simply for reinforcing the patriarchy, Bella Baxter’s (Stone) release comes as a surprise. Much more, a demonstration of what cinema experiences a complex time that finds its best place in the most unique stories.