Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things is now in theaters, and while the acclaimed filmmaker's adaptation of Alasdair Gray's novel makes some changes to the original story, one key aspect of Bella Baxter's (Emma Stone) character remains the same.
Spoilers follow.
We find out early on that Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) "resurrected" Bella via a Frankenstein-like experiment, but it's later revealed that Baxter was pregnant when she took her own life, and "God" actually brought her back with the brain of her unborn child.
This twist has stirred up some controversy, since Bella begins to explore her sexuality shortly after leaving Godwin's care, and it seems clear that her mind hasn't fully developed when she begins to sleep with multiple partners (while also embarking on a career as a prostitute).
The book also reviewed backlash, with some going so far as to accuse Gray of "making excuses for paedophilia."
How do you feel about this plot point? Do you agree with the criticisms, or do you have a different point of view? Drop us a comment down below, and check out a new clip from the movie.
Stone spoke about her role during an interview with Vanity Fair, revealing that Bella is "my very favorite character I've ever gotten to play."
“I had a lot of extra hair sewn into the back of my head. It was super heavy but really worth it. More than anything, it’s my very favorite character I’ve ever gotten to play. The character I play in this movie is Bella, and I am completely in love with her. She’s not like anybody else. She doesn’t have a history, so she’s building herself as she goes. She’s so interested in the world, and she’s full of life and passion and curiosity. It was just incredible to play somebody who has that kind of joy and that sense of adventure in them and basically her whole entire lifetime. Her growth was a huge gift.”
"From filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the incredible tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Stone), a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Under Baxter’s protection, Bella is eager to learn. Hungry for the worldliness she is lacking, Bella runs off with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a slick and debauched lawyer, on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation."
The movie has been rated R for “Strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language."