Affluent

The Gilded Cage: When Affluence Isn’t Enough

Isn't it fascinating how often movies portray wealth not as a source of happiness, but as… complicated? We see it time and again – the sprawling estates, designer clothes, private jets - all the trappings we think signify success. But underneath that shiny veneer, there's often a simmering tension, a deep-seated unhappiness. It’s like seeing a perfectly frosted cake knowing something rotten sits beneath.

"The Feast," which I just watched, really nails this feeling. You know, those dinner party scenes? They're practically a cinematic cliché now – a shorthand for exploring power dynamics and unspoken resentments within the elite. Think about "Citizen Kane." Charles Foster Kane’s Xanadu is breathtaking in its scale, but it's also a monument to his loneliness, a physical representation of everything he didn't have despite being surrounded by possessions. It's a gorgeous prison!

And let's not forget the Coen Brothers’ "The Big Lebowski." Okay, so The Dude isn’t exactly rolling in dough like Kane, but his pursuit of leisure and perceived freedom – which looks incredibly appealing - is ultimately rooted in a kind of pathetic yearning. He wants to be part of that world of effortless ease he sees others enjoying, without having earned it or even really wanting the responsibility that comes with genuine wealth.

The interesting thing is how this portrayal has shifted over time. Early depictions of the wealthy often leaned into caricature – villains hoarding gold and exploiting the masses. While those stories still resonate (hello, classic silent films!), contemporary cinema seems more interested in exploring the psychology of affluence. It's not just about being rich; it’s about the anxieties, pressures, and moral compromises that often accompany it. “The Feast,” for example, brilliantly shows how easily these families can be destabilized by someone observing them—a fly on the wall revealing their carefully constructed illusions.

Ultimately, films exploring affluence aren't just cautionary tales. They're mirrors, reflecting back our own societal anxieties about success and happiness, and forcing us to question what we truly value. Do we equate wealth with fulfillment? Or are there more meaningful measures of a life well-lived? It’s a conversation worth having - especially while enjoying a really good movie.

What films exploring wealth/privilege have stuck with you lately? I'd love to hear your thoughts!