NICOLA Sturgeon has said she is “curious” to see how the adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s Poor Things manages to separate itself from the original work’s Glasgow setting.
The film, widely tipped as one of the favourites for this year’s Oscars, has sparked some debate after it was revealed the film, unlike the original work, is not set in Glasgow.
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film will be released across the UK on January 12.
In a post on Instagram, the former first minister said she had re-read the novel ahead of the film’s release and gave her thoughts on the ongoing debate.
“Before going to see @poorthingsfilm I thought I’d re-read the novel. It takes less than a page to be reminded of the sheer genius of Alasdair Gray,” she said.
“There is some controversy around the setting and casting of the film, and I admit to being genuinely curious to see if/how they manage to separate the story from Glasgow without losing something of its essence.
“But in my view, anything that brings the work of Gray to a wider audience is a good thing. I’m looking forward to seeing it – even if I can’t quite imagine enjoying it as much as the book.”
The film tells the story of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) – a young Victorian woman who is brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist (Willem Dafoe) before running off with a lawyer (Mark Ruffalo) across the continents.
It has already picked up seven nominations at this year’s Golden Globe awards and will contend for the top prizes alongside the likes of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Controversy has surrounded the film's removal of Glasgow, and the creators' failure to include any Scottish actors in the main cast.
A Guardian article on the issue from late 2023 noted: "Gray’s story of Bella Baxter and her biological reawakening is tied tightly to actual locations.
"Bella’s home is given as 18 Park Circus, a real city address, as is Lansdowne church, where she goes to be married. Maps and prints of Glasgow – many drawn by Gray – are included in the book to help readers follow his fantastic narrative. Poor Things reeks of Glasgow."
Dr Rodge Glass, a senior lecturer in creative writing at Strathclyde University and Gray's biographer, said: "Poor Things is about colonialism, feminism, sexuality, shame, control and much more, inc. Glasgow. It's also a clear reply to Frankenstein, a novel written by an English author.
"[Gray] declared influences and remade stories of others for Scotland. Now others are responding to him. Good."
