Yorgos Lanthimos’ Film4 backed feature POOR THINGS has won the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival.
POOR THINGS marks Film4’s fourth collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos after backing THE FAVOURITE, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER and THE LOBSTER, each of which enjoyed impressive festival runs and awards successes.
Film4 developed the screenplay for POOR THINGS with Lanthimos’ regular producers Element Pictures and co-financed the film with Searchlight Pictures, who also co-financed Lanthimos’ Bafta and Academy Award winning THE FAVOURITE with Film4.
POOR THINGS tells the tale and fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma 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.
Following its UK premiere next month at the London Film Festival on 14th October, POOR THINGS will be released in UK cinemas on 12 January 2024 by Searchlight Pictures.
Watch the trailer below: