Emma Stone’s film ‘Bugonia’ premiered at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, receiving high praise. ‘Bugonia’ is a remake of the 2003 Korean film ‘Save the Green Planet!’ directed by Jang Joon-hwan, with Yorgos Lanthimos directing.
‘Bugonia’ depicts the story of two young men who believe in an alien invasion theory and mistakenly kidnap a corporate CEO, Michelle (Emma Stone), thinking she’s an alien. The villain character originally played by Baek Yun-sik in the original has been transformed into a female character in this version, and Emma Stone completes the intense image of the character by going as far as to shave her head. She stated, “The ambiguity of Michelle being both a perpetrator and a victim was attractive,” explaining her reason for choosing the role.
The world premiere at the Venice Film Festival was filled with excitement. Right after the screening, the audience gave a standing ovation for six minutes, expressing enthusiastic reactions to the film. Emma Stone, taking the stage, showed tears of gratitude, and fellow cast member Jesse Plemons, screenwriter Will Tracy, and director Lanthimos also expressed thanks to the audience. The sight of actors posing on Venice’s traditional water taxis added to the unique atmosphere of the film festival.
Emma Stone’s transformation was particularly noteworthy. Having already won two Oscars for ‘La La Land’ and ‘Poor Things’, she takes on a reinterpretation of Baek Yun-sik’s character as a female version in this Korean original by going bald. She said, “The character being defined as female created a more ambiguous tension,” adding, “The blurring of lines between good and evil and the continuous swaying of the audience’s judgment are captivating.”
International critics also gave overwhelmingly positive reviews. The Hollywood Reporter praised it as “visually stunning with rich textures and dazzling colors,” while Vogue highlighted the film’s “black humor, unpredictable twists, and shocking ending, creating an intense two hours.” IndieWire described it as “a canvas grandly filled by Lanthimos,” and Inverse deemed it “the most genre-defying film of the year.” Variety noted “a shift to human themes amid laughter and shock,” while Screen Rant acclaimed it as “a work that makes the audience laugh, squirm, and gasp for breath.”
Unlike ‘Save the Green Planet!’, which was praised by critics for its bizarre imagination and black comedy yet ignored by audiences upon release, ‘Bugonia’ resonates, aligning with today’s contextual framework. Its connection to the current social atmosphere, where conspiracy theories and fake news are pervasive, draws even stronger empathy. Director Lanthimos explained, “The narrow framework of beliefs in which modern people live is the core of this work,” describing it as “a warning message questioning human nature and where we are headed.”
Emma Stone added, “Online algorithms trap people in rabbit-hole-like narrow worlds,” voicing concern that “especially when teenagers face bullying or become targets, they fall into this narrow reality.” Actor Jesse Plemons also expressed deep empathy for the theme closely linked to reality, stating, “Anyone can fall into the trap of conspiracy theories.”
Planned and produced by CJ ENM, ‘Bugonia’ is set to open in Korea this November.