“IT’S ALIVE”

Resurrection or reanimation has long been a province of lore and literature. As a literary device it has its roots in the Mahabharata and the Bible. We’ve also seen it in more contemporary works such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and many others. Director James Whale brought Frankenstein to the silver screen in 1931 in what is now considered one of cinema’s greatest classics. More than 80 films have been inspired by the tale of the Doctor and his Monster. These days, resurrection and reanimation are increasingly explored by artists and scientists. This issue’s cover story is about a novel twist on the concept. In Poor Things, director Yorgos Lanthimos weaves a highly visual and VFX-infused tale of the evolution of a young woman brought back to life by an off-center genius of a scientist named Dr. Godwin Baxter. In a recent interview, Lanthimos said that three films were his reference for the tone and feel of the film: The Ship Sails On, Belle de Jour and Young Frankenstein. But the film is about more than just bringing someone back to life and a showcase for VFX. It explores themes of feminism, equality, liberation, sturdiness and aspiration in signature Lanthimos style.