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Bugonia (2025)
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
If you are one of those who follow Erich von Däniken's 'Ancient Aliens', you may have heard that aliens are prime movers in human civilisation.
It was probably around the time when Neanderthals were roaming the Earth together with proto-homo sapiens. Arunakki was an alien king who came to Earth in search of gold, a commodity much in demand on his planet, Nibiru. Earthlings were enslaved to do their dirty job of extracting gold to be used back home. The aliens considered the Neanderthals to be strong but clumsy and engaged in fights amongst themselves. The proto-homo sapiens, the homoerectus, on the other hand, were weak but hardworking. Arunakki infused their own DNA in what can be viewed as the world's first gene therapy to produce intelligent homosapiens. The remaining humanoid species were devastated by the Great Floods, as mentioned in the legend of Gilgamesh, Noah's Ark, Manu's Smriti and tales from South America.
Apparently, every time after that, when the world goes into turmoil or stagnation, alien forces land here to correct the imbalance and perhaps give a jolt to the right direction. In events that involve leaps in knowledge, like the Industrial Revolution, or cataclysmic ones, like the World Wars, Hitler, or even Jesus and Muhammad, they had their hand in it.
So, it may not be out of the world to think that the people involved in the pharma industry are aliens trying to eradicate the human race or take over the world. With so many people in the modern world stressed out and seeking solace in cyberspace, individuals may cling to fixed ideas and conspiracy theories. Bugonia approaches these outlandish beliefs with a heavy dose of irony, treading a fine line between satire and genuine suspense. The film frequently pokes fun at conspiracy theorists, yet never completely dismisses their anxieties, leaving the audience to decide whether to laugh, question, or worry for the characters. This ambiguous tone keeps the story playful but also thought-provoking.
Teddy, a quirky person, is quite convinced that an alien race is out to take over the world and turn humans into a subservient species. He convinces his socially awkward cousin that the CEO of a particular pharma company is one intruder, and together they plot to abduct her. Things become complicated, and there is a plot twist at the end.
Lanthimos brings his signature surreal style to the film, blending dark humour with suspenseful moments that keep the audience guessing. The performances, especially from the lead actors playing Teddy and his cousin, are both nuanced and offbeat, which adds to the film's unsettling yet oddly comedic tone. Verdict: 4/5.
Farouk Gulsara (asokansham@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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