Movies About The Wealthy

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-sik
Rated R

Parasite is a award-winning dark satirical comedy-drama from South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho. The film follows the Kim family, a poverty-stricken family of four living in a semi-basement apartment in Seoul. When the son Ki-woo is recommended for a well-paying tutoring job, he and his family attempt to exploit the wealthy Park family by infiltrating their home. The Parks are oblivious to the truth, and the Kims soon find themselves involved in a complex web of deceit and class warfare. The film explores themes of wealth disparity, social hierarchy, and the notion of ‘us versus them’. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated for six Academy Awards, winning four, including Best Picture and Best Director.

From Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Rated R

Amélie is a heart-warming French comedy-drama directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet in 2001. The film follows the life of a shy young woman named Amélie Poulain, who lives in Paris. Amélie's life is changed when she discovers a document box left behind by an old tenant in her apartment. Amélie resolves to find the original owner of the box and reunite them with it. In her pursuit, she decides to go on a quest to bring joy to people around her by secretly playing matchmaker, returning lost items, and even creating scenarios where people's wildest fantasies come true. Along the way, she meets and falls in love with a man named Nino Quincampoix, who collects discarded photographs. Through her journey, Amélie discovers the importance of cherishing life, experiencing love, and finding joy in the little things.

From Guillermo del Toro, starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú
Rated R

Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy film directed by Guillermo del Toro. Set in Franco-era Spain in 1944, the story follows young Ofelia who, along with her pregnant mother, moves to live with her new stepfather, the sadistic Captain Vidal. Ofelia soon discovers a magical labyrinth in the woods near her new home, and embarks on a quest to complete three tasks set by a mysterious faun to prove her worth as a true princess. Along the way, she encounters a variety of creatures and must confront her own fears and the brutal reality of her new home. The film ultimately follows Ofelia's struggle between her loyalty to her family and the dangerous secrets of the labyrinth.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Moon So-ri
Rated Not Rated

The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean period thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. It is set in Korea during the 1930s when it was under Japanese occupation. The story follows a young pickpocket named Sook-hee who is hired as a handmaiden to Japanese heiress Lady Hideko, who lives in a remote estate with her domineering uncle Kouzuki. Sook-hee is actually working with a conman, posing as a Japanese Count, who plans to marry Lady Hideko and have her committed to an asylum in order to steal her inheritance. However, Sook-hee soon finds herself falling in love with Lady Hideko and in turn, Lady Hideko falls in love with Sook-hee. The two women must find a way to protect each other and protect Lady Hideko's fortune from her uncle's schemes. The film is a thrilling blend of romance and suspense with a twisty plot and fantastic performances by the two lead actresses.

From Kar-Wai Wong, starring Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Maggie Cheung, Siu Ping-Lam, Tung Cho 'Joe' Cheung
Rated PG

In the Mood for Love is a 2000 Hong Kong drama film directed by Kar-Wai Wong and starring Tony Chiu-Wai Leung and Maggie Cheung. The film tells the story of two neighbors, Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen, who become aware of their spouses' infidelity and develop a connection with each other in their emotional turmoil. Despite their mutual attraction, the two remain faithful to their spouses out of respect for their marriages. The film follows their emotional journey as they slowly develop a bond of friendship, love, and ultimately, nostalgia. With its strong performances and its beautiful cinematography and set design, In the Mood for Love has come to be considered one of the defining films of the 2000s, and an enduring classic of the romantic drama genre.

From Céline Sciamma, starring Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino
Rated R

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a 2019 French romantic drama film written and directed by Céline Sciamma. The film revolves around a young painter, Marianne (Noémie Merlant), who is hired to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young woman who refuses to sit for her portrait. Marianne eventually befriends Héloïse and begins to paint her in secret. As the two women spend time together, they fall for each other, and their relationship develops into a passionate love affair. The film follows the two women as they grapple with their forbidden love against the backdrop of 18th century France. Ultimately, they are forced to make a difficult decision regarding their future together.

From Xavier Dolan, starring Anne Dorval, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément, Patrick Huard
Rated R

Mommy is a powerful, emotionally charged drama directed by Xavier Dolan and starring Anne Dorval, Antoine-Olivier Pilon, and Suzanne Clément. The film centers around a fiercely independent single mother, Diane “Die” Després (Dorval), and her troubled 15-year-old son Steve (Pilon). Steve suffers from adhd, and the two of them are often at odds with each other, but nonetheless have a deep bond. After a violent outburst lands Steve in a juvenile detention center, Die arranges for him to attend a special school, but Steve quickly becomes frustrated with the strict rules. When a kind-hearted neighbor, Kyla (Clément), intervenes and offers her help, Die begins to form a new family unit with the two of them. Together, they must find a way to deal with Steve's issues and build a brighter future.

From Yôjirô Takita, starring Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Rated PG-13

Departures follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist who loses his orchestra job and returns to his hometown of Yamagata. To make ends meet, he takes a job preparing bodies for funerals, a job that is looked down upon in his community. As he works, he discovers the beauty and dignity of the process of sending the dead off with respect and compassion. Despite his family and friends' ridicule, Daigo embraces the job and finds solace and fulfillment in it. Through his experiences, he learns to accept death as a part of the cycle of life. In the end, Daigo discovers a newfound appreciation for his own life and those around him.

From Ang Lee, starring Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chang Chen
Rated PG-13

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts epic set in 19th century China. The story follows two martial arts masters, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, as they search for Li Mu Bai's stolen sword, the Green Destiny. Along the way, they come across a powerful warrior, Jen Yu, whose destiny intertwines with their own. As the warriors battle for control of the sword and for their own personal honor, a beautiful romance blossoms between Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien. The film combines intense fight scenes, stunning visuals, and a poignant love story to create a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience.

From Daniel Ribeiro, starring Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi, Tess Amorim, Lúcia Romano
Rated Not Rated

The Way He Looks is a 2014 Brazilian coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Daniel Ribeiro. The film follows Leonardo, a blind teenager living in São Paulo who longs for independence from his overprotective parents. He befriends Gabriel, a new student at school, and Giovana, a girl who's had a crush on him for years. After a series of challenges and misunderstandings, the trio find friendship and understanding in each other as they deal with issues of identity, acceptance, and the risks of first love. Along the way, Leonardo discovers a newfound confidence and falls in love with Gabriel, who helps him see the world in a new light.

From Luis Buñuel, starring Fernando Rey, Delphine Seyrig, Paul Frankeur, Bulle Ogier
Rated PG

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie is a surrealistic comedy directed by Luis Buñuel. The film follows a group of upper-class friends who continually attempt to have a meal together, but are constantly interrupted by a series of strange and unexpected occurrences. The characters find themselves in a series of seemingly unrelated situations, each leading to another dream-like sequence. Throughout the film, Buñuel plays with themes of social class, religion, and politics as the characters move in and out of one dream-like state to another. The film is heavily influenced by Buñuel’s own personal views on class and religion, as he uses his characters to draw attention to the absurdity of the social systems in which they live. In the end, the characters are still left without the meal they have been seeking, leaving the viewer to wonder whether the meal will ever happen or if it was all a dream.

From Alfonso Cuarón, starring Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta
Rated R

Roma is a 2018 film written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, which follows the life of a young housemaid, Cleo, who works for a middle-class family in 1970s Mexico City. Cleo is a fiercely dedicated housekeeper and nanny to four children, and is a loyal friend and confidante to their mother, Sofia. As Cleo navigates the complex hierarchy of the family’s household, she grapples with her own life choices and finds support from her close circle of friends. As political and personal tensions build within the home and surrounding community, Cleo must find her place in a rapidly changing world. At the same time, her heart yearns for a life outside of her day-to-day routine.

From René Laloux, starring Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Drake, Eric Baugin, Jean Topart
Rated PG

Fantastic Planet is a 1973 Czech-French animated science fiction film directed by René Laloux and written by Laloux and Roland Topor. Set in a surrealistic science-fiction world, the film tells the story of an alien race of blue giants called the Draags who have enslaved the human race of Oms. The story follows the life of an Om named Terr, who is kept as a pet by a young Draag girl. When he escapes, he finds other Oms and leads them in a revolution against the Draags. Themes of power, oppression, and freedom are explored as the Oms fight for their survival in a strange and hostile world.

From Kar-Wai Wong, starring Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Yeung
Rated Not Rated

Fallen Angels is a 1995 Hong Kong crime drama film written, produced and directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film stars Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Karen Mok. It follows a pair of hitmen, a moody rebellious loner and a mute, as they wander the neon-soaked streets of Hong Kong. In the course of their work, they encounter various characters whose stories interweave with each other, including a former lover and a mentally unstable woman. Through these characters, the film examines themes of loneliness, redemption, and the human condition.

From Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Marie-Laure Dougnac, Dominique Pinon, Pascal Benezech, Jean-Claude Dreyfus
Rated R

Delicatessen is a French dark comedy/fantasy film directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Set in post-apocalyptic France, the film tells the story of a group of individuals in a dilapidated apartment building controlled by an eccentric and unhinged butcher. The butcher has a sinister plan to provide the building's residents with meat by killing them off one by one. When a former clown arrives, he finds himself in a peculiar love triangle with the butcher's daughter and a tenant who is also a frog butcher. In the end, the residents rise up against the butcher and overthrow him. The film is an exploration of themes such as survival in an austere world, the fragility of relationships, and the power of hope.

From Xavier Dolan, starring Anne Dorval, Xavier Dolan, François Arnaud, Suzanne Clément
Rated Not Rated

From Pawel Pawlikowski, starring Agata Kulesza, Agata Trzebuchowska, Dawid Ogrodnik, Jerzy Trela
Rated PG-13

From Takashi Miike, starring Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura
Rated R

From Julia Ducournau, starring Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella, Laurent Lucas
Rated R

From Mario Bava, starring Michèle Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi, Boris Karloff, Mark Damon
Rated Approved

From Gaspar Noé, starring Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, Kiddy Smile
Rated R

From François Ozon, starring Félix Lefebvre, Benjamin Voisin, Philippine Velge, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
Rated Not Rated

From Takashi Shimizu, starring Megumi Okina, Misaki Itô, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa
Rated R

From Directors: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz, starring Lukas Schwarz, Elias Schwarz, Susanne Wuest, Hans Escher
Rated R