Laura Greenfield somehow is allowed to go with her camera where all of us with curious minds want to go and that is into the household of a super rich family. The family this documentary follows is the Siegel family. David Siegel is the founder and president of Westgate Resorts and with his success he pretty much lives like a king with his trophy wife, Jackie, the mother of their seven maladjusted children. Just as they're in the middle of constructing their dream home, the largest single family home in America (complete with bowling alley and hair salon), the 2008 financial crisis happens, throwing this family into a tailspin where we the viewers get to see how money really can turn people into weak-minded, lazy and confused caricatures. Some might find this film as a cinematic revenge against the wealthy and some might even feel sorry for these people (although even with the Crash they have more money than the most of us) but I found it an fascinating and entertaining film about misguided principles. In the beginning of the film David Siegel is asked why he is building the largest home in America and his answer is "Because I can." Maybe when we as a society learn to act morally with our profits will we truly be able to move forward. I'm not saying a wealthy couple should never build their dream home, but perhaps what they define as their dream can reasonably fit into their day-to-day lives. Should they build the largest home in America? Should they buy whatever it is they want and give their children whatever they want? I guess so but they'll suffer the consequences as will those that cross their path. I think we're on this planet to better ourselves and our society. You can't buy a better soul or ignore the human pain we all must deal with. In the end money is artificial and this film brilliantly melts away that facade. Grade: A-
Sidenote: I've read since that David Siegel tried to sue Greenfield for making this film (this the same nimrod who told his employees they'd lose their jobs if they voted for Obama). What an idiot. You can't sue someone for filming you saying something stupid when it is what you said. I'm sure she edited things to fit a certain narrative that she wanted to focus on but the way this family acts on screen is the way they act on screen. David could have stopped talking at any moment but be didn't. I'm sure this film doesn't show everything, but that's not the point of this essay (which documentaries are). It's not about the whole truth, it's about a single theme. Greenfield as an artist and storyteller did her job. A lawsuit isn't going to change anything. David Siegel will continue to be a rich asshole who thinks he's a great man and people will continue to take vacations at his resorts because he offers a decent service. No one really cares who owns the resort they're staying at, they just want to relax and rent out the dream (something the Siegel's should consider doing instead of buying).
No comments:
Post a Comment