Poor Things - An Autie Reviews Autistic Media Rep Part 125

An Autie Reviews Autistic Media Rep!
Part 125 -
Poor Things

(some of these ideas are from @autisticthrifter on instagram!)

#actuallyautistic #disabled #shorts

[TheDreamingDays]

The film also uses the karmic disability trope. The evil ex-husband at the end of the movie is punished for his actions via lobotomy when Bella gives him a 'goat brain'. Bella's own metaphorical disability lessens as her character grows savvier and more independent. Her coming into her own as a woman is signified by her losing many of the symptoms of her disability. Making a connection between, better person = less disability.

[blakebleeds]

ugh the unquestioned popularity of this movie has made me realize that the majority of people just straight up do not care about disabled folks at all. everyone could easily dog pile onto "music" because the film itself was pretty low quality, but even just watching the trailer for poor things made me super uncomfortable and embarrassed about my autistic traits in the same way that music did... and now it's winning awards and universally acclaimed :/

[dollysasmr]

THANK YOU ITS SO NICE TO HEAR SOMEONE SAYING WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID!! I didn’t think I would but I cried when the film won its second Oscar just because it makes me so so upset to see everyone praising it even though it’s so clearly mocking disabled people but because Bella is never actually labeled as disabled (apart them literally calling her the r slur) and instead the author of the original book went with the creepy brain swap narrative and so the characters/producers/audience basically get a free pass to be as ableist towards her disabled traits as they like. Watching Bella get literally sedated for getting overwhelmed when her plans are ruined was horrifying, watching her be told off for saying the socially unacceptable thing in a restaurant which results in her feeling ashamed and hitting herself was upsetting and then seeing her go to the woman who owns the Parisian brothel to tell her about her distress and lack of consent towards making love with random male customers, just to have that woman tell her that her consent doesn’t matter and that upsetting aspects of life are what make you human and so basically she just implies that Bella should allow herself to be r*ped in order to make money for the business. So many others aspects of the film are awful also but the only thing I could deeply appreciate was the beautiful cinematography which was utterly encapsulating. Apart from that, the entire film and book is absolutely vile and seeing it be so deeply praised over and over genuinely makes my heart deeply ache. The reaction to the film is just a reflection of how society views disabled people and it’s horrific to watch such a reaction take place.

[ThePaulineu]

I'm so glad for the pop culture detective popularizing the born sexy yesterday trope because it's SO COMMON. I didn't like Poor things because of it

[RickyStaines]

Thank you, Sydney! This is a neurodivergent story, however fantastical the plot, and neurodivergent people should have been involved (and perhaps it would have been very different). It wasn't comfortable being in the cinema with lots of people openly laughing at ableist slurs and autistic embodiment. Its success and praise has been hard to watch and I feel this film will age very poorly. I do love Emma Stone and do not believe anyone wanted to cause harm, but it's interesting that nobody saw this as a disability story (or chose to avoid this angle as the film wouldn't have been made in the way it has).

[Sad_Bumper_Sticker]

I also got Blade Runner born yesterday trope creep vibe from the camera/narration and POV choices.

[dimimegesis]

100% correct.
i did enjoy the movie quite thoroughly, though. i don't have a defense for that. clearly ULTRA problematic in every way possible. i just like Willem Dafoe and Emma Stone and Yorogs Lanthamos.