Yorgos Lanthimos Reimagines 'Save the Green Planet!' as 'Bugonia,' Premiering at Busan Film Festival

Director Yorgos Lanthimos has brought a unique, darkly beautiful vision to Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 cult classic 'Save the Green Planet!' with his remake, titled 'Bugonia,' which has premiered at the Busan International Film Festival.

'Bugonia' screened at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, telling the story of two young men who believe a major corporate CEO, Michelle (played by Emma Stone), is an alien planning to destroy Earth. Their conviction leads them to abduct her.

The film opens with Teddy (Jessie Plemons), an employee at Michelle's company's logistics center, insisting to his cousin and roommate, Don (Aidan Delvis), that Michelle is an extraterrestrial invader. The brothers then proceed with their plan to abduct her, constantly trying to convince her of her alien identity, much to Michelle's bewilderment. The central question remains: can Teddy and Don save the planet from the 'accused alien' Michelle?

'Bugonia' follows the narrative arc of the original 'Save the Green Planet!', mirroring the abduction and interrogation sequences. A significant divergence, however, is the gender-swap of the original antagonist, CEO Kang Man-sik (played by Baek Yoon-sik), now portrayed as a female CEO, Michelle.

This gender reversal transforms the graphic torture scenes of the original into intense dialogue exchanges between Michelle and the Teddy brothers. While visual gore is reduced, the dense conversations create a different kind of suspense.

Furthermore, where 'Save the Green Planet!' was filled with quirky and imaginative absurdity, 'Bugonia' zeroes in on the realistic circumstances faced by Teddy and Don, portraying them as ordinary citizens. The remake leans more towards the 'dark' aspect of the original's black comedy.

Adding to the distinctiveness are Lanthimos's signature mise-en-scène and musical score. He juxtaposes the brothers' outlandish fantasy with societal realities, subtly grounding the narrative. The music accompanying flashbacks to Teddy's past creates a stark contrast with the present timeline.

While retaining the essence of the original, 'Bugonia' is infused with Lanthimos's unique directorial style. Originally slated for Jang Joon-hwan to direct, the remake faced production hurdles. Instead, Lanthimos collaborated with Will Tracy, known for his work on 'Succession' and 'The Menu.' CJ ENM has been instrumental in the project's development since 2018, leading the packaging of the English remake's script, director, cast, and production company.

Seven years in the making, 'Bugonia' shifts the sibling protagonists to cousins and the abductee from a male CEO to a female one. Yet, the inherent irony of the story persists, much like subtle tonal differences between shades of grey.

Yorgos Lanthimos is renowned for his distinct cinematic style, characterized by surrealism, dark humor, and unsettling narratives. His filmography includes critically acclaimed works such as 'The Lobster,' 'The Favourite,' and 'Poor Things,' which often explore themes of societal norms and human behavior in unconventional ways. His distinctive approach to storytelling has earned him a dedicated global following and numerous awards.