Most people who have read my viewpoints probably know by now that I am an enthusiastic opinion-haver on political and socioeconomic issues (check out my previous column “Coffee Table Socioeconomics!”). What they might not know, however, is that I’m also an avid movie-watcher and amateur reviewer. Combine these interests, and this column is born.
“The Bigger Picture,” in both a literal and punny sense, seeks to explore the broader social, economic and political issues embedded in films that are relevant to our world and our identities as Tufts students. It’s always good to stay engaged with political and economic discourse and to be aware of the social phenomena that shape our lives. Films, I would argue, are a perfect entry point: They allow us to experience these issues in a visceral, visual and aural way while still serving as an enjoyable, stress-free pastime.
From older films like “Mississippi Burning” (1988) to more recent ones like “Poor Things” (2023) and “Sinners” (2025), from classic Hollywood staples to Wong Kar-wai’s dreamlike portrayals of British Hong Kong (some of my personal favorites), films have long grappled with pressing societal issues and captured the state of our world in ways that remain timeless.
Take Gabriele Muccino’s blockbuster film, “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), as an example. The movie follows Will Smith’s character, Chris Gardner, a poverty-stricken, homeless single father who is consistently abandoned by a society unwilling to help him. Despite countless hardships, he secures a full-time job at a stock brokerage firm and breaks down in tears of joy in the final scene as he begins a new chapter of hard-won happiness.
The film can be read as a strong capitalist testimony about the ‘American Dream’: Wealth and upward mobility in the corporate world provide an escape — perhaps the only escape — from an oppressive system that neglects the poor. It prompts us to ask important questions: where does happiness truly come from? Is rising above poverty only possible by becoming part of the very system that keeps others trapped? It is also worth considering the film’s release in 2006, examining why this message resonated so strongly at the time and observing how our values around material wealth and profit motives have since shifted, or perhaps, remained the same.
Consider Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” (1999), a classic film that portrays the disillusionment and stagnation of middle-class life, where people are just trying to get through each day. This emptiness ultimately drives the main character, Lester Burnham, a father played by Kevin Spacey, to resort to morally corrupt behaviors, including having sexual fantasies about his daughter’s best friend. Lester’s ultimate death delivers a strong message: His misguided attempt to battle a failed system ends up failing him in the same way. Viewers are left to wonder how we ought to confront disillusionment, particularly when it stems from the monotony and constraints of a mundane, paycheck-to-paycheck existence.
And the list goes on. My point is, films reveal so much about the world and draw our attention to issues we might not otherwise consider — something this column seeks to show. This is not a space for rigorous, incisive analyses of cinematic artistry or philosophical depths, nor is it meant to mimic Rotten Tomatoes or Letterboxd. However, anyone with even the slightest interest in the social implications of movies should continue to develop their movie repertoire, and “The Bigger Picture” is the perfect place to do it.
Is there a film that you would like to see me write about in my next column? Submit it to me here!
