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Though not a film, Breaking Bad has I think been exemplary in its treatment of this subject. By and large now it’s a topic that sees much more treatment in TV

by rusk 9y ago

Though not a film, Breaking Bad has I think been exemplary in its treatment of this subject. By and large now it’s a topic that sees much more treatment in TV than in movies. “Boyhood” comes to mind.

saudioger 9y ago
Except most of Boyhood was emotional drivel for people who want to see poor people from a distance and believe everything always turns out fine in the end through hard work. Better watch out, that kid from a broken home might break the rules once, but cool white-savior mom is all he needs (she also managed to free the gardener from wage slavery by giving him a nice pep talk). These are totally real things that happen without any long-term psychological damage worth mentioning.
- rusk 9y ago
  Fair enough, that's one way of looking at it. I was personally more struck by how the boys socioeconomic status forced upon him this unpredictable, drifting lifestyle, without opportunity for putting down roots and develop deep relationships. At the end where he doesn't have a home to go back to. I think that this is viewed predominantly as "kind of normal" in the USA and it's really sad. I don't think it's healthy. No man is an island we need roots and community to make us whole. It's interesting that you should pick on the "poor white saviour mom" when it's clear she is the only strong character in the film besides the boy. She is the only person looking out for his interests, and that too is sad.
  - saudioger 9y ago
    Of course, I understand your take and it's fine... I just grew up with a very similar life situation and feel as though the movie glamorized it to the point where it almost becomes dismissive.
bdavisx 9y ago
I don't think any of the main characters in Breaking Bad lived in poverty; even the secondary ones didn't for the most part. If WW had died w/o becoming a drug kingpin, he would have left his family in poverty, but they didn't live in poverty before.
- rusk 9y ago
  Yes but that's the sad tale of middle america. What should be a "comfortable" existence is perpetually under threat.

by rusk 9y ago

saudioger 9y ago

Except most of Boyhood was emotional drivel for people who want to see poor people from a distance and believe everything always turns out fine in the end through hard work. Better watch out, that kid from a broken home might break the rules once, but cool white-savior mom is all he needs (she also managed to free the gardener from wage slavery by giving him a nice pep talk). These are totally real things that happen without any long-term psychological damage worth mentioning.

rusk 9y ago
Fair enough, that's one way of looking at it. I was personally more struck by how the boys socioeconomic status forced upon him this unpredictable, drifting lifestyle, without opportunity for putting down roots and develop deep relationships. At the end where he doesn't have a home to go back to. I think that this is viewed predominantly as "kind of normal" in the USA and it's really sad. I don't think it's healthy. No man is an island we need roots and community to make us whole. It's interesting that you should pick on the "poor white saviour mom" when it's clear she is the only strong character in the film besides the boy. She is the only person looking out for his interests, and that too is sad.
- saudioger 9y ago
  Of course, I understand your take and it's fine... I just grew up with a very similar life situation and feel as though the movie glamorized it to the point where it almost becomes dismissive.

bdavisx 9y ago

I don't think any of the main characters in Breaking Bad lived in poverty; even the secondary ones didn't for the most part. If WW had died w/o becoming a drug kingpin, he would have left his family in poverty, but they didn't live in poverty before.

rusk 9y ago
Yes but that's the sad tale of middle america. What should be a "comfortable" existence is perpetually under threat.