Welcome film fans!
I've always found director Yorgos Lanthimos' films to be a bit of a challenge for me. His unique style often leaves me scratching my head, and I wasn't exactly looking forward to his new film, 'The Favourite', or its original title, 'Bugonia', for that matter.
But a friend of mine was really keen on me checking it out, and I have to admit that I was curious about this unusual creation.
So, I decided to give it a shot and see what all the fuss is about.
So, here are my thoughts on the film.
A Brief Summary of the Film:
A conspiracy-theorizing worker named Teddy, with the help of his not-so-bright cousin, kidnaps the CEO of a large company because he believes she's an alien from the Andromeda galaxy who's out to destroy life on Earth. He locks her up in the basement and demands that she write a message to the Andromedian emperor, asking him to take Teddy aboard his spaceship and discuss a plan to get the aliens off our planet.
The film was released in 2025.The original title is Bugonia.The genre is a fantastical black comedy.The runtime is around 2 hours.
So, let's start by figuring out what the title of the film, 'Bugonia', actually means.
I was fascinated to learn that the title isn't just some random name, it actually has a deeper meaning.
It turns out 'Bougainvillea' is an ancient Greek word 'βυγονια' meaning cattle offspring.
Apparently, there was this ancient ritual where they'd sacrifice a bull, and then from its flesh, they believed bees would be born.
So, in essence, Bougainvillea is a symbol of renewal, a new cycle.
It's all about how death and chaos give way to harmony and new life.
That's why we're told at the beginning of the movie about the total disappearance of bee populations.
Bougainvillea 2025 BougainvilleaLet's move on.
Teddy, played by Jesse Plemons, is a total loser, a beekeeper by hobby, and a worker at a massive pharmaceutical company run by Michelle Fuller, played by Emma Stone.
He convinces his autistic brother Don, played by Aidan Delgadillo, to kidnap Michelle.
They shave her head, chain her up in a basement of Teddy's house, and it's all because her hair can supposedly connect her to Andromedans.
I mean, who needs those kinds of connections, right?
Buginia reviews Buginia 2025 reviews Buginia movie reviews Emma Stone I spent hours scouring the internet for different versions of the conspiracy theory, and I'm convinced: Michelle is not human, but an alien from Andromeda, planning to wipe out bees, and eventually, humanity on planet Earth.
According to my theory, she's the representative of the aliens who are using biotechnology to conduct experiments on humans, animals, and insects.
Mitchell Teddy wants to get in touch with the Andromeda leadership to discuss their plan to leave the planet Earth
Emma Stone movies But there's one catch: Mitchell insists she's not an alien, she's a human!
Bugonia 2025 Bugonia 2025 movie reviewsThis movie is a remake of the 2003 South Korean work 'Save the Green Planet'.
I was way off thinking this movie was strictly science fiction at first.
Of course, there's some fantasy involved, but for the most part, it's a dark comedy that takes aim at various aspects of our lives.
The film tackles environmental crisis and the role of the chemical industry.
Teddy initially comes across as either a total nutcase or even a psychopath, but the more you get to know him, the more you realize he's dead serious.
He's genuinely concerned about the bee population dying off on our planet, and that's not entirely unfounded.
It's wild to think that a third of our food is pollinated by bees. Without them, we'd be in trouble, and they're in trouble too. The 'colony collapse disorder' is a real thing - worker bees abandon the queen, and the entire colony dies. Some people blame pesticides, while others claim that corporate moguls are behind it all, trying to control our food resources. But I dug deeper and found something even more sinister. It turns out we're the ones being held in a cage, poisoned, and exploited. They're the ones at the helm, not us. They want to do to us what they did to the bees: wipe out the colony, break us down into individual units that are lost and forgotten. And it's up to you and me to stop them!
The film tackles some tough issues - the decline of bees, the looming environmental crisis, and the apathy of big business and those in power. It's a wild ride that starts with chaos and gradually builds up to a sense of awareness and impending doom.
Warning: the movie contains some violent scenes, but they're not too many. This is a heads-up for those who are easily disturbed.
That being said, I found the pacing to be top-notch. I watched the movie for two hours straight without feeling bored or wanting to turn it off. The music was also spot-on – it really added to the tension in some scenes and helped to heighten the sense of unease.
However, I do think this movie isn't for everyone. Some people might find it weird or just plain confusing. And who knows, maybe the truth is in the madness...
The movie's sound design was also impressive. I loved the way the music and sound effects worked together to create this sense of unease and tension. Some of the soundtracks were really effective in building up the atmosphere and making me feel like I was right there in the movie.
But, at the end of the day, this movie's not for everyone. If you're easily disturbed or just don't get it, then maybe this one's not for you. But if you're up for a wild ride, then strap yourself in and enjoy the ride!
And who knows, maybe the truth is in the madness...
Bugonia film Films 2025I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the weird film Bugonia.
Director Yorgos Lanthimos does a great job of showing us that sometimes these crazy ideas can be our harsh reality.
A reality we close our eyes to and don't want to hear about.
I want to highlight the excellent acting in this film.
I think all the actors did a great job in their roles and convincingly brought their characters to life.
The film is engaging, absurd, funny at times, and even scary at times.
A masterful blend of tension, horror, and dark humor.
And yes, the plot twist is kept until the very end.
The ending was absolutely mind-blowing.
The film is nominated for an Oscar in the categories of 'Best Picture', 'Best Adapted Screenplay', and 'Best Original Score'.
I'd definitely recommend watching 'Borgman', but I want to reiterate that this film isn't for everyone.
Be prepared for a wild ride and a thought-provoking experience.
I'm deducting a point for the graphic violence.
Thanks for reading my review!
Enjoy the movie and have a great weekend!
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