The Flavour of Poor Things (2023)

Abstract

Poor Things has achieved remarkable success, surpassing $100 million globally and becoming
Yorgos Lanthimos’s highest-grossing film. This accomplishment highlights the film’s broad
appeal and its ability to engage audiences with its unique blend of dark comedy, magical realism,
and rich thematic content. The present paper aims to analyse Poor Things (2023), adapted from
Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel and reinterpreting Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein for a modern
audience. The film follows the journey of Bella Baxter, a resurrected woman navigating a
surreal, gothic version of Victorian London, as she evolves and grapples with questions of
identity, morality, and empathy. This paper seeks to uncover a potentially overlooked thematic
dimension in the film – its subtle engagement with veganism. By examining the narrative and
thematic elements, the paper reveals how Poor Things subtly aligns with vegan principles,
particularly in Bella’s growing empathy toward animals and her rejection of meat. While
veganism is not explicitly emphasised, it emerges as a significant undercurrent, deepening the
film’s exploration of ethics and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Through this lens,
the paper positions Poor Things as a multifaceted cinematic work that not only reinterprets
classic literature but also engages with contemporary ethical issues, showcasing Lanthimos’s
ability to provoke thoughtful reflection through cinema.