Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos's latest film 'Bugonia' has garnered attention for its innovative use of the 1.50:1 aspect ratio, which mirrors the classic 3:2 format of traditional 35mm photography cameras. The film, starring Jesse Plemons as the character Teddy, represents a bold departure from Hollywood's conventional ultra-wide 2.39:1 format that has dominated cinema for decades.
Watching movies in 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios creates an unusual viewing experience for modern audiences, as these formats are more commonly associated with photography rather than Hollywood productions. However, this wasn't always the case in cinema history. Early Hollywood productions originally utilized the 4:3 format (technically 1.37:1), with iconic films such as 'Citizen Kane,' 'Casablanca,' and 'The Wizard of Oz' all shot in this nearly square format during the early 20th century.
For audiences who grew up during the 1990s and 2000s, encountering modern films shot in these traditional formats can be jarring. The 2023 film 'Saltburn,' which used a 4:3 aspect ratio, initially confused many viewers who watched it on television through Amazon MGM's limited theatrical release. Ironically, it was the advent of television that originally prompted Hollywood to abandon the 4:3 format in favor of ultra-wide screens.
Lanthimos, who is both an accomplished photographer and one of Hollywood's most sought-after directors, collaborated with cinematographer Robbie Ryan to create 'Bugonia.' The director's photographic background proves instrumental in executing the film's visual composition, with the duo using their expertise to brilliantly craft shots within the 3:2 format. Unlike 'Saltburn,' which seemed to use the 4:3 format primarily to emphasize the film's shocking elements, 'Bugonia' employs the tall aspect ratio more strategically.
Ryan and Lanthimos utilize the vertical space of the 1.50:1 format to incorporate crucial details in both the upper and lower portions of the frame. Lanthimos describes 'Bugonia' as 'contained,' with much of the action taking place in basement settings. This confined environment plays to the strengths of the 3:2 aspect ratio, where elements above and below the actors often carry more significance than what occurs on either side of them.
The production also incorporates another vintage format experiencing a renaissance in the 2020s: VistaVision film. According to Ryan, while this format delivers spectacular resolution, color quality, and texture, it presents significant technical challenges. 'The camera pushes the film horizontally through the gate instead of vertically,' Ryan explained to Variety. 'So you get brand new problems that I didn't know existed, which is camera jams. We ended up using it in the film. It's interesting looking.'
Ryan also noted that Lanthimos has a distinctive preference for low-angle shots throughout most of his films, a stylistic choice that has influenced the cinematographer's own work. 'If there's ever a shot at normal height, he's like, 'What's this about? It's horrible,'' Ryan revealed, highlighting the director's commitment to his unique visual perspective.
Lanthimos, who originates from Athens, has built his reputation on creating surreal films that explore themes of authority, society, and human behavior. 'Bugonia,' described as a science fiction film that focuses on bees, addresses all these familiar topics while also incorporating themes particularly relevant to contemporary 2025 audiences. The film continues Lanthimos's tradition of using unconventional storytelling methods and visual techniques to examine complex social dynamics and human psychology.
