In the whimsical world of cinema, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest escapade, “Bugonia”, has made its charming debut at the Venice Film Festival, leaving audiences wondering if they’ve walked into a comedy or a psychological thriller—or perhaps some avant-garde art installation gone awry. Emma Stone, the film’s radiant star, described it as a “funny and fucked up” portrayal of our times, which makes you wonder if that’s the tagline or just a casual Tuesday evening in 2023.
Lanthimos and Stone have established themselves as the cinematic equivalent of peanut butter and jelly, combining in their previous collaboration “Poor Things,” which snagged the Golden Lion and several Oscars. It’s almost as if they’ve teamed up to redefine “I got 99 problems and they all involve existential dread,” and they’ve named the film after a bug? A bold branding strategy, to say the least!
“Bugonia” is a dark comedic thriller that promises a spectacularly savage glimpse into our modern world of anxiety and chaos. Or as some might call it, just another day scrolling through social media. Stone even went so far as to say, “it’s reflective of this point in time,” which translates roughly to: buckle up, folks; it’s about to get weird.
The throat-clearing plot revolves around two conspiracy-fueled cousins, brought to life by Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delbis, who kidnap a pharmaceutical CEO—played by none other than Stone—because they suspect she’s part of an extraterrestrial plot to wipe out humanity. Your typical family reunion gone terribly wrong, really.
Lanthimos cheekily assures us that “not much of the dystopia in this film is very fictional,” which is a fancy way of saying we might as well skip the popcorn and just scroll through the headlines. With the world spiraling into chaos via technology, AI, wars, and climate change deniers, this film is less “sci-fi” and more “please stop scrolling.”
The film also happens to be an English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult classic “Save the Green Planet!”—because why not add a twist of international flavor to your existential crisis? Stone evidently holds a firm belief in extraterrestrial life (to no one’s surprise), claiming, “So yes I’m coming out and saying it, I believe in aliens.” It’s almost refreshing; a Hollywood star admitting they trust their gut over the tabloids.
Forging ahead, Stone endured the grueling experience of having her hair shaved off while unconscious for this lovely indie romp. She claimed, “It’s like so much easier than any (other) hairstyle,” which begs the question: is a bald head the new “it” look for fall 2023? The bar has officially been set low, folks.
After working on at least five projects with Lanthimos (which seems like the ultimate exercise in professional intimacy), Stone has managed to carve out a comforting and safe environment on set, proclaiming it feels like “being in the trenches together.” Let’s just hope those trenches don’t include intergalactic conspiracies or a sudden love for minimalist hairstyles!
“Bugonia” is competing among 21 films for the illustrious Golden Lion, alongside notables like Guillermo del Toro and Kathryn Bigelow. As Venice prepares to roll out the red carpet and hearts, the festival runs through to September 6, promising a showcase of cinematic madness that might prompt you to check under your bed for aliens once it’s all over.
