Video Fridays: Poor Things (2023): Cheeky Prometheus Satisfied

What if Frankenstein’s creation had been shielded from public scrutiny until it was ready to explore? And what if it had been raised to look at the world through scientific inquiry and experimentation and was given the freedom to pursue its curiosities? What if Dr. Frankenstein himself had been experimented on and understood the limitations and costs of such an approach to life? What if Dr. Frankenstein’s experiments were more about this scientific approach to life and not anything about replacing God or such madness. And what if the creators of such a tale did not take themselves too seriously to not find humor and the triumph of exploring such what-ifs?

I don’t know how many times the Frankenstein story has been retold and how many times it’s fallen all over itself like an uncoordinated monster because it either takes itself too seriously or shies away from exploring what it means to be alive. Poor Things manages to ask all of the difficult questions, bows to no ideology, and proclaims that our best endeavor is to continually work toward bettering ourselves. Basically Belle is never satisfied with “Because” when she asks, “Why?”

Looking at some reaction videos posted after I saw the film I was surprised that apparently some were confused and made uncomfortable that this film didn’t shy away from areas where curiosity might lead. I mean, it’s in the trailers, when Belle is in bed with her lover and says, “Why do people not just do this all the time?” To which her lover, played by Marc Ruffalo, has no answer. Now if this film had been made in the 1970s, then it would have stayed right there with the nudity and sex and never asked the next questions. Or maybe she would have met with a tragic end because she succumbed to the allure of hedonism, etc., etc., etc. Instead, she enjoyed herself and continued to explore food and conversation and exploring the differing ideas of those around her. It’s a wonderful tale about the possibilities one might find if one is willing to ask the difficult questions and not be satisfied with a closed off society that too often says, “Because.” Enjoy.