To think that Poor Things is actually a seriously fucked up film?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Spoilers obvs

Basic plot summary- pregnant woman trapped in an abusive marriage attempts suicide by jumping from a bridge. Frankenstein-type scientist retrieves her body, transplants the unborn baby’s brain into her head and brings her back to life. This child-woman is then basically abducted by a dodgy bloke who teaches her all about the joys of fucking, she very naively gives all their money away and because they are now broke and she enjoys sex so very much, she becomes a prostitute, whilst still having the mental age of a young child.

There’s no denying Emma Stone is brilliant in the role, but AIBU to think that it is otherwise one completely messed up Freudian nightmare of a movie?!

I’m not clever enough to think like that.

I'm just sat here all bamboozled.

My take on PT is that it was a fantasy piece of art so focused on symbolism that you can’t take the facts of x,y,z happening and comment on them as if they are meant to be a realistic turn of events.
Victoria’s life was so awful because of male oppression that she decided to end it and not bring a daughter into such a way of life either. In having her babies brain implanted in her, she was able to see her world through completely fresh and questioning eyes.
Her exploration of sex and the attitudes of people around her I took as a metaphor for all women’s wants and desires. That it’s completely natural and innate that women want things that make them happy. But the world does not generally support women in seeking their happiness. Some people think it’s wrong and shameful for women to have desires. Some people find women’s wants threatening and want to control them. Some people are ready to exploit women’s wants for their own interests. Some think they know better about what is best for women and treat them like children.
I found it thought provoking, interesting and cinematically very beautiful. I can’t say it moved me, or disgusted me. I wouldn’t say I loved it. But I don’t hate it and I don’t see anything “fucked up” with it (other than that the way women have been/still are treated is fucked up).

Oh purlease. The social and personal realities of 19c prostitution are entirely absent.

Sitting.

@nadine90 This is a great post and critique Nadine.

Oh, you are so clever. Do you always come across as so condesending or just on this thread?

where is the authentic female desire depicted? Sorry but I disagree, it was contrived female sexual desire, male fantasy stuff!

I found Bella’s enjoyment of sex to be very authentic and refreshing actually. There was no posey come-hither nonsense. It was about what she liked. When she was in the brothel, she didn’t put on a show but laughed. Similar to how she danced, it wasn’t about how she looked to others but what felt good.

@Goldenbear you need to let Emma Stone that she was totally bamboozled when offered the role of Bella. She absolutely does not understand what the film was about, she's going to feel so stupid.

What actually feels good in a brothel with punters who smell?

That was pure 100% male fantasy prostitution nonsense blurring enjoyment of sex with sex work. The myth of the sexually rapacious woman who loves sex so much she does it as a job.

I think my point has gone over your head.

Exactly!

But she didn’t enjoy it like she thought she would. And when she realised the reality, tried to find ways to make it bearable (the scene with the story and the joke). This was her being exploited. Hence my original comment.

It hasn't.

Why would anyone, even with an implanted brain, think prostitution would be fun? She supposedly has an adult brain by this point. Apart from men that is.

Was it because she enjoyed sex and thought she'd be having lots of sex and getting paid for it but then realised she didn't like it?

But she has no concept of prostitution, bad sex, etc. It’s kind of the point that she is new to the world and everything in it. All she knows is that certain things feel nice. Then finds out she can make money fro
it. It takes her some time to figure it out. But obviously, she does, or she would go back to it once she was able to. She doesn’t, and she helps her friend out of that life too

Yes, an adult brain but the self awareness of a child still - completely disturbing and a rubbish storyline.

But this is where the vulnerable/learning disability problem kicks in. Either she’s an adult who would work that out in 1 second flat or her lack of experience due to her brain situation effectively makes her special needs.

Quite.

‘Makes her special needs’

good grief

As in SEN and a mother of a child with learning disabilities has expressly commented how distributing she found this aspect of the film.

Yes. She is being exploited.
It is always problematic when women are exploited. I don’t think the film pretends otherwise? Showing something is not the same as celebrating/championing it/saying “this is ok!”

It’s even more problematic when vulnerable women are exploited.

It sort of is celebrating it in a way - casting a famous actress with lavish sets and costumes. Here we are showcasing exploitation.