In Poor Things, director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favorite, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) crafts a tale reminiscent of a mythical hero’s journey, telling the story of a woman newly created by mad science embarking on a quest to discover herself. Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is returned from the dead by Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) with no memories and the mind of an infant, rapidly maturing as her brain grows to fit her body. She exists entirely within Godwin’s control as a scientific experiment, her movements meticulously documented by his assistant (Ramy Youssef) who quickly becomes infatuated with her. At the same time, Bella begins to discover her own sexuality, finding enjoyment in pleasure but confused by social constraints and soon desiring to see the world outside Godwin’s abode. An opportunity for her escape comes in the form of Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a hedonistic lawyer who offers to take her away. The pair subsequently embark on a sex-filled tour of the Mediterranean, where Bella discovers within herself a deep desire to help the unfortunate of the world.
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