‘Poor Things’ Passes the Bechdel Test. But is it Feminist?
<p>Yorgos Lanthimos’ eighth feature film tells the tale of reanimated-by-a-mad-scientist Bella Baxter (Stone) and her intercontinental journey toward social and sexual liberation. I’m a fan of most stories that center women, and in a world where too many movies don’t reach the <a href="https://bechdeltest.com/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Bechdel Test’s very low bar</a>, <em>Poor Things</em> surpasses it. Bella has meaningful conversations with fellow traveler Martha, Paris madam Swiney, and socialist colleague/friend-with-benefits Toinette. However, the film focuses largely on her relationships with men: Dr. Godwin Baxter (the aforementioned scientist), Max McCandles (Godwin’s protégé hired to study Bella), Duncan Wedderburn (the rakish lawyer she runs away with), and finally, Alfie Blessington (Bella’s husband from a previous life).</p>
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