[Lee Jong-gil's Film Reading] Poverty and Family Discord... Too Extreme to Relate To

Netflix Movie 'Hillbilly Elegy'
Four-Time Divorced Drug-Addicted Mother... The Neglected Son's Efforts and Growth Chronicle
Points to the Rust Belt but Fails to Universally Portray the Harsh Reality of Poverty

The Netflix film Hillbilly Elegy opens with a sermon broadcast on the radio. "For some, the American Dream is still just a hope out of reach. (...) Even if you are consumed by deep resentment, fighting injustice and blaming God, do not lose faith in God, in ourselves, and in our existence. In this time of crisis when many families are breaking apart..."

This seems far removed from the story of J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso) and his family, who set out on a vacation surrounded by nature. They show a strong bond. When Vance is beaten by a peer, everyone immediately springs into action. His mother Bev (Amy Adams) is the most agitated. "Who made you like this? I’m going to kill them. My baby. Are you okay?"

As an adult, Vance is on the verge of achieving the American Dream. After serving as a Marine in Iraq, he enrolled at Ohio State University and graduated two years later. He attends Yale Law School, preparing to join a law firm. His path has not been all smooth sailing. In fact, his humble family background and troubled childhood still hold him back. His father gave up custody early on. His mother is a drug addict who has been divorced four times. Vance tries to hide the conflicts and poverty. "Still, among hillbillies, I was considered aristocracy."

Hillbillies refer to farmers or lumberjacks living in the mountainous central region of the United States. Their area is known as the Rust Belt. It was once the heart of America’s manufacturing boom but has faced decline and recession alongside the fall of manufacturing.

Director Ron Howard focuses on Vance’s life story and his journey to reclaim his dreams from the wasteland. The driving force is his grandmother Bonnie (Glenn Close), who makes every effort to help. She pays attention to Vance, who was practically neglected, and encourages his studies.

"Opportunity is what matters. If you don’t try, opportunity won’t come. Am I going to live forever? When I die, who will take care of this family? I didn’t expect your mom to turn out like that. I thought she’d live happily. But after being pushed around here and there, she eventually gave up. She even stopped trying. Yes, I haven’t done well either. But now you have to choose. Whether you want to succeed or not."

Unfortunately, the grandmother’s advice does not extend to the Rust Belt. This is because the film focuses almost exclusively on the family story. It fails to portray the reality of poverty or the broader circumstances faced by those involved. The unstable income, unemployment, and poor living conditions are all blamed on Bev. The resulting family breakdown is only one aspect of the poverty issue.

Poverty is a reality that appears within social and economic relationships. It needs to be shown with a focus on the economy and communal life as a whole societal phenomenon. Only then can we understand how poverty and exclusion arise and are produced.

Hillbilly Elegy leaves too much room for interpretation as blaming the parents. Parents generally try to maintain a normal life for a long time because of their children. This is to avoid giving children a sense of shame about poverty. Escaping the opposite situation is exceptional, but it is difficult to gain widespread sympathy.

Director Howard places love and forgiveness at the climax to achieve universality. Vance holds his mother’s hand tightly as she struggles with drug addiction. "Mom, don’t give up."

But the world is not so easy. Especially the issue of poverty can never be solved by family-level discussions alone. This applies not only to money and other material assets but also to recognition, successful human relationships, and all possibilities to participate in shaping one’s life. These rights must be guaranteed to everyone as citizenship in a democratic society. Director Howard should have emphasized this importance more.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.