Bothered by Bezos? Watch 5 Film Satires Lampooning The Rich
- Kristina Jilly
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Did the appearance of a certain billionaire at the MET Gala send you into a tizzy?
You're not alone. Backlash has been brewing since Bezos was revealed as the main sponsor behind the event this year. There were protests on the ground in Manhattan where demonstrators staged their own "Resistance Red Carpet" mocking the fashion event.
In perhaps the ultimate literal "piss-take", hundreds of bottles of fake urine were hidden prior to the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to protest Amazon's inhumane work practices.
As storytellers, we should salute this level of sarcasm. Satire might be one of the most effective ways left for us to battle the post-capitalist reality tech bros are so kindly creating for us.
Satire and its function in society
Satire-a powerful device and genre in the hands of the oppressed–has been used for thousands of years in social commentary. Although it can be laugh-out-loud funny (like an SNL sketch on a good day or the meme you just liked on social media), it doesn't necessarily have to be. But it does need to feel clever and recognizable (like the works of Brecht or George Orwell).
What makes satire so effective is its ability to deliver a sometimes quite unpalatable message to a broad audience under the guise of entertainment.
The earliest satire can be traced back to the Greeks and beyond that to ancient Egypt where it was used by students who were tired of studying to ridicule daily life (some things never change). The word "satire" purportedly comes from the Latin word "satur" meaning "well-fed." Perhaps a stretch, but that might have referred to the exaggeration used in satire for comedic effect.
Why do we love to watch the chronically rich fail and suffer?
In film satires, the wealthy are often portrayed as horribly selfish people who are obsessed with the superficial. Yes, we know. Not all rich people.
As adults, we come to terms with the fact that real life isn't fair. That's why watching wealthy wankers on screen suffer is so intensely satisfaying; it feeds our innate craving for justice. It's front row seats to karma in action.
Revenge of the common folk is a popular story trope in a world where the gap between classes is widening. If society is not yet mobilized to stage all out rebellion, at the very least they can fantasize about a scenario where social justice is served.
The question remains whether the creators of the films below are simply expressing their world view through razor-sharp satire or hoping to play a part in inciting the eventual overthrow of the overlords.
Or does satire simply serve those in power by allowing the masses to let off steam? What do you think?
Top 5 Recent Film Satires Lampooning the Rich.
Here are five successful film satires that are sure to comfort your tired but rebellion-loving soul.
Film #1 - Saltburn (2023)
Already seen it? This is the film where the slogan "Eat the Rich" takes on a new dimension. If you know, you know.
In a nutshell, the film revolves around a working-class lad (played by Barry Keoghan) a scholarship at Oxford where he is befriended by a wealthy student of aristocratic lineage (Jacob Elordi). But all is not as it seems.
This is a great piece of storytelling that marries elements of satire and mystery. A slow burn at first, the film takes its time to thoroughly set up the characters and scenario. This pays off big time in the second half of the film when the twists start coming.
Film #2 - Parasite (2019)
The Kim family struggle to make ends meet and live in less-than-ideal circumstances in a basement apartment. When one family member lies his way into a job as a tutor for the wealthy Park family, the other Kims soon follow, finding employment in the household using whatever means necessary.
Naturally, everything soon goes pear-shaped in ways you cannot predict.
Personally, I can't believe this came out before Covid. It's still very vivid in my mind, a testament to what a funny yet powerful film it is.
Film #3 - Triangle of Sadness (2022)
The upper echelons of society (and an influencer plus one on a freebie) set sail on an über luxurious cruise. The film is a stinging indictment on the world as we know it–and those who helm it–but tables are turned when tragedy strikes.
There are scenes that are not for the those easily inclined to nausea. But as I watched this back-to-back with Saltburn, it didn't affect me in the slightest.
I would say this one is the most explicit in terms of message. Woody Harrelson as the Captain delivers some home-truths to his passengers when they are at their most vulnerable.
Suffice to say, it's put me off taking a cruise for life (Edit: the recent hantavirus outbreak has only strengthened this resolve).
Film #4 - The Menu (2022)
Set in an über exclusive, remote restaurant run by a psychotic chef with an axe to grind.
Although the rich patrons are to be punished, no one escapes Chef's ire. Everyone's doomed, including the staff, in this somewhat harrowing film that borders on horror (without the jump scares). This means less scope for vicarious class-motivated revenge.
But it's still a fascinating if brutal dive into the world of high-end cuisine and the clientele they serve.
Film #5 - Knives Out & Glass Onion (2019 & 2022)
While Knives Out lampooned those who rely on the comfort of ancestral wealth, Glass Onion broadened the spectrum to include billionaires masquerading as geniuses (ring any bells?).
These films might be less about razor-sharp satire and more about the Agatha Christie-like mystery romp, but the jibes regarding the rich and their various hangers-on is certainly on point.
And remember storytellers, don't make people want to shoot the messenger.
Storytelling is a powerful tool in delivering a message, but it's not a blunt instrument to hit people over the head with.
If you have an agenda to push, being in any way obvious about it within the story framework might kill audience interest.
To soften the blow, satire is the way to go.
Vive la révolution!
Story Inkubator was founded by writer, scriptwriter and teacher, Kristina Jilly, an Australian living in Central Europe who's written for HBO Europe and RTL Television. A teacher at the University of Applied Sciences in Upper Austria, Kristina also writes online content about the art of storytelling and topics that inspire creativity.
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