Embracing the Bold & the Beautiful in ‘Poor Things’: A Reflection on Bella’s Unconstrained Journey

I knew nothing about the movie “Poor Things,” before I watched it and I’m so glad as a synopsis would have put me off, in fact the first 30 minutes was a hard watch but soon the movie morphed from an almost regrettable choice into a cinematic love affair.

Bella’s Rebellion
The story of Bella, initially imprisoned to keep her ‘safe’, ‘protected’ from the world, transformed into an exquisite tale of defiance, self-discovery, and unapologetic pleasure. Her journey is a vibrant rebellion against the chains that society uses to bind us. She navigates through life with a spirit that refuses to be tamed or downtrodden by societal norms. She chooses to follow her desires and live life in bold, unabashed colour. Indulging her appetites fearlessly, a testament to her unbridled spirit. Her body, her sexuality isn’t shackled by guilt, societal shame, or patriarchal judgment. I find this wildly attractive.

A Bold, Bright World
As Bella evolves her world becomes bigger, bolder, brighter (as do her fabulous clothes) and she takes up more space. For me, “Poor Things” isn’t just a film; it’s a celebration of a woman’s right to pleasure, to laughter, and to carve out her own path amidst the chaos of the world. Yes it’s not about ticking ‘feminist’ boxes, it’s fantastical, it’s not a documentary or a moral guide. It’s a film.

Provocation and Conversation
Critics no doubt will argue that Bella’s narrative is a product of privilege, an unrealistic portrayal of sex work, or a mere male fantasy. Though as a healthy sexually veracious woman I do question why the female pursuit of pleasure should be dismissed as a male fantasy? Dancing like a wild thing, feeding, fucking, fighting these instinctual, animalistic things are our birth right as much as anyone else’s. Yes we can’t all go round punching babies and saying exactly what we think, there is of course balance in all things, but we humans so often live in total disconnect with our feelings and needs and it makes us lifeless.

Breaking Free
Bella is a beacon for those of us yearning to break free, again and again and agin from the constraints that society imposes, especially the constraints that bind women to outdated notions of propriety and ambition. Her adventures are a vivid reminder of the boundless potential that lies in embracing our desires, our curiosities, our capability and, ultimately, our freedom to choose our own adventures.

Reflection and Identity

I see a lot of myself in Bella, and I’d like to welcome in more and more, how about you? the life in bright colours, the dancing, the fearless embracing of life, the audacious spirit. It resonates deeply with my pursuit of a life lived beyond conventional boundaries. The unapologetic claim to her desires.

In Bella’s refusal to be defined by others, I see my own struggles against the control and expectations imposed upon me (by society, by previous partners and by myself). It’s in her vibrant rebellion that I find encouragement to pursue my passions without reservation.

I want an adventure, a rollercoaster life marked by deep pleasure and challenge and love, love, love. I want to see the world not as it is, but as it could be through the lens of my own desires. Her story encourages me to embrace my complexities and not give a f*ck. To seek joy in the unexpected, and to challenge the narratives that have long dictated what a woman’s life should look like. I love dancing my own dance and being surrounded by people who love that about me.

“Poor Things” is a bold, provocative masterpiece that doesn’t just tell a story—it invites us into a world where the messy, the complicated, and the beautiful coexist, it doesn’t do as it’s told, thank f*ck. It urges us to embrace the totality of our experiences with courage, laughter, and an unyielding, light hearted zest for life.