The relationship between CEOs and their underpaid employees takes center stage in director Yorgos Lanthimos’ upcoming film Bugonia, where the unfairness of this dynamic fuels the chaos.
Inspired by South Korean director Jang Joon-hwan’s 2003 feature Save the Green Planet, Bugonia follows Teddy (Jesse Plemons), a beekeeper working for a pharmaceutical company led by Michelle (Emma Stone). Teddy, like the bees he tends to, toils away for a fraction of what Michelle earns, drawing parallels between his own existence and the servitude of the bees to their queen.
Feeling disposable in Michelle’s corporate scheme, Teddy’s suspicions of an alien presence fuel his belief that Michelle is not human. This conviction drives him to concoct a plan to abduct her, all in the name of saving the planet.
While the trailer may hint at a whimsical tone, the underlying themes of economic inequality and mental health struggles are prominent in Lanthimos and writer Will Tracy’s narrative. Bugonia promises to shed light on these societal issues, making it a timely and thought-provoking watch. Catch it in limited theaters on October 24th, followed by a wide release on October 31st.
