The opening film of Stockholm International Film Festival of the year has now been revealed, and it’s none other than Yorgos Lanthimos’ acclaimed »Poor Things«, the Golden Lion winner for Best Film at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, featuring the stellar trio of producers Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe in the lead roles. The film will kick off Stockholm International Film Festival on November 8th, and tickets have already been released.
From Academy Award®-nominated Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and producer Emma Stone comes the tale of the fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (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 time, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.
Lanthimos is renowned for his unique and often surreal style, where he explores human relationships and behaviors in a distinctive and sometimes unsettling manner. He has been praised for masterfully weaving together humor with emotional depth, creating experiences that entertain while provoking profound thought and deep emotions within the audience.
»Poor Things« is based on a 1992 novel by Scottish author and artist Alasdair Gray, and the screenplay is written by Tony McNamara, marking the second collaboration between Lanthimos and McNamara after »The Favourite«.
“I’m thrilled that Poor Things will open the 2023 Stockholm International Film Festival, this film is a true collaboration by a hugely talented team in front of and behind the camera – but our film would not even exist without Emma Stone and her commitment as an actor and producer that allowed her to deliver such an amazing performance.”
Yorgos Lanthimos
Lanthimos has previously visited Stockholm International Film Festival in 2008 when he was awarded the Bronze Horse for his international breakthrough film »Dogtooth,” as well as in 2015 when he received the Stockholm Visionary Award for »The Lobster«.
“Poor Things is a perfect film to kickstart this year’s festival. It’s funny, visually striking, and an extravagantly genre-blurring cinematic epic. We look forward to presenting this fantastic film to the audience.”
Beatrice Karlsson, Program Director of Stockholm International Film Festival
More films will be rolled out gradually leading up to October 11th, when the full festival program will be unveiled. This year’s edition of Stockholm International Film Festival will take place from November 8th to 19th.
