Sorry to Bother You- A Dark Satire Against Capitalism


Sorry to Bother You 2018
by
Boots Riley



There is a lot of pent up black angst against American capitalism. It has been reflected through Black Panthers, Civil rights movement and even Nation of Islam. Communism, somehow, never appealed to them in a substantial way.
It is in this light that this film which focuses on a black telemarketer’s life ends up lending supporting to organised labour movement , and opposing the attempts of capitalists to introduce moles in the form of plaint species (equisapiens). The script is original , but reminds one of Gullivers’ Travels and H.G.Wells.
There are elements of genuine dark humour. Acting by Lakeith Stanfield is superb. The film works as a work of art, but not as a social commentary. It is one thing to decry capitalism, but portraying an upwardly mobile individual as selfish and dragging him down in the name of class and race is ideological trash. No –ism gonna pay your bills , or buy you a nice apartment. Throwing it all away for the sake of any pseudo-cause is suicidal. Alas, Boots Riley ends up glamourising it.

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