Documentary
United States of America
In Generation Wealth, Lauren Greenfield delves into her personal and professional archives, presenting her photographic work, as well as interviews with her subjects, to explore the impact of materialism on our lives. The film is structured around Greenfield's own life story, revealing how her own upbringing in Los Angeles and exposure to affluence made her a keen observer and chronicler of the culture of wealth and excess.
The film takes us on a journey from the 1980s, when greed was good and conspicuous consumption was the norm, to the present day, when the gap between the rich and poor has never been wider, and the pursuit of wealth and status continues to drive much of our culture. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters who embody the extremes of this culture, from celebrity addicts to hedge fund managers, beauty queens to porn stars.
As she reflects on her own career and her observations of the changes in society over the past 25 years, Greenfield raises crucial questions about the meaning of success, the nature of happiness, and the costs of our obsession with material goods. She shows how materialism has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from our relationships to our health, and how it has profoundly impacted our values and sense of self.
Ultimately, Generation Wealth is a sobering indictment of our society's obsession with wealth and status, and a call to action to reexamine our priorities and values. It challenges us to consider what truly matters in life, and how we can find meaning and happiness amidst a culture that seems to value image over substance.
