Money, not sex, is the great seducing idol of contemporary civilization. The most profound epiphany of Lauren Greenfield’s masterpiece is how often wealth and privilege weaken rather than empower us. What could easily have been a wry satire about excess begins with David and Jackie Siegel attempting to build the largest single-family residence in America. An economic recession abruptly shifts the focus and tone of the film. Camera confessionals about the joys of abundance give way to terse, eavesdropped domestic exchanges prompted by daily tasks, even simple ones, which cannot be delegated to paid labor. When a family pet dies a needlessly painful death because nobody remembers to feed it or give it water, the depth of wealth’s learned helplessness evokes as much pity as outrage. Do we want parents, partners, or deities to simply provide for us, or is a necessary part of human spirituality growing into the best versions of ourselves? If spiritual, moral, and ethical muscles can atrophy with non-use, what are the life conditions that will most frequently transform us into our best selves? — Kenneth R. Morefield (2023)
Arts & Faith Lists:
2023 Top 25 Spiritually Significant Documentaries — #18