If you think Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lantimos pushed the envelope with “The Poor,” wait until you see “Bagonia.”
Two years after the duo came to Lido along with the previous Oscar winner, “The Poor One,” they return with an evil thriller about a female CEO (Stone) who was invited and tortured by an employee (Jesse Plemons) on suspicion of being an alien. “Bugonia” features a push envelope scene between prisoners of war, with Venice audiences covering their eyes and breathing at the more tense moments of the film.
In the film’s conclusion, the festival crowd showered “Bagonia” with enthusiastic worship, winning a six-minute standing ovation, showing that this Italian audience was standing up for what Lantimos was serving. Stone, Plemons, Lanthimos and other cast members, including Alicia Silverstone and film screenwriter Tracy, clapping with bows multiple times. Stone even tears her husband, Dave McCurry, clapping behind her, “Emma, will you dance with me?”
On this rainy Thursday night, Stone and Plemons walked the red carpet before entering the Sara Grande Theatre. They faithfully pose for a selfie with a horde of fans gathered in the boring weather, hoping to get a glimpse of the stars. The crowd was particularly enthusiastic about seeing Stone, chanting her name in unison, until she took several photos towards the barricade.
“Bagonia” is an English remake of Jang Jon-Hwan from the 2003 Korean film “Save the Green Planet,” and is the fourth collaboration between Lanthimos and Stone following “The Poor,” “Favorites,” and “Great Kindness.” Two of these films won the Stone, the best actress at the Oscars. Will “Bagonia” be lucky 3?
