Bugonia Stands as One of the Most Beautifully Bizarre Films From Last Year -

By Luis Zonenberg

Continuing our look back at last year’s films, I wanted to reexamine a highly acclaimed film currently nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. My search inevitably led me to Bugonia, the latest film from Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos. The film is based on the South Korean dark comedy, Save the Green Planet!, following the same beats as the original film. Despite Bugonia performing poorly at the box office, it garnered four Oscar nominations so I decided to check it out and see if it’s truly worth all the hype.

The story focuses on a conspiracy theory-obsessed beekeeper, Teddy (Jesse Plemons), who is looking after his autistic cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis). Teddy is also struggling to care for his mother, Sandy (Alicia Silverstone), after participating in a clinical trial for an Auxolith drug that left her comatose. This leads him to believe that Auxolith CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) is actually an alien disguise, working with Don to abduct her so they can stop her race from forcing humans into blind subservience for good!

The story is ludicrous in the best sense of the word! The dark humor works organically with how quirky many of these characters are. At first, I thought it was a strange decision to have it told from the POV of the conspiracy theorists, but it actually worked in the film’s favor. It becomes more of a cat and mouse game between them and Michelle, amplifying the absurdity of the situation as well as the comedy!

The film tackles concepts of alienation and humanity’s self-destructive nature, exploring if a better life can emerge from a societal collapse. The term, Bugonia, even stems from the myth of bees emerging from an Ox carcass which greatly symbolizes the overall message of the film. At times it can be a little heavy-handed and abstract, but these are nonetheless thought-provoking themes that are handled with care and appropriately treated as such despite the absurdity of the film’s story.

The cast was wonderful to watch, with Jesse Plemons turning in a superb performance as Teddy Gatz. He balances the nuance and anxiety of his character with ease while amping up the humor as well. Emma Stone was nothing short of phenomenal, bringing a subdued performance that wonderfully contrasted Plemons.’ Other supporting actors, like Aidan Delbis and Stavros Halkias, also anchored the film with their enjoyably quirky performances.

The cinematography was a downright spectacle! Lanthimos’ style made the world seem all the more lush and grand, making it feel like an epic stage play brought to life on-screen. The photography beautifully captured the openness of the outdoor environment, contrasting it with the tight enclosed space indoors where Emma Stone’s character is held captive. This creative approach complimented the director’s distinct style while making it all the more enriching for the audience to enjoy.

Spoilers Ahead: The only real problem I found is the ending, which might be polarizing for some audiences. The last third is an absolute rollercoaster, relentlessly jumping from scene to scene so frantically you don’t have time to breathe. They ultimately reveal that Michelle Fuller was actually an alien Queen, beaming up to her ship to discuss the human dilemma with her species which are known as the Andromedans. The ending is so bizarre and bleak that it does detract from the larger piece of the pie.

The film is in keeping with director Yorgos Lanthimos’ style, very reminiscent of his 2022 sci-fi film, Poor Things. Despite the film being a remake, there are enough good performances and superb jokes that make the story feel very standalone. The ending might prove to be disappointing to some, but I do feel most audiences will find some enjoyment in Lanthimos’ latest film. Dripping in Lanthimos’ signature style, Bugonia is a highly entertaining sci-fi comedy anchored by its ensemble cast and unnerving themes.

Bugonia is now streaming on Peacock.

Rating: ★★★ ½ of five