To me, the theme of this film by Leos Carax was to comment on the dark nature of capitalism and the extent people are willing to go just for their job. Osars’ job symbolizes the extent and damage people will do to themselves just for money. This feeds into ideas of greed. Oscar is shown to be sick throughout the film as he is working himself to death. While the movie is a little all over the place, there is a linear story that helps the average viewer have some idea of what is going on.
One example of this theme came when Oscar was eating the bento box in the limo. At the time, he was dressed as a homeless person, eating sushi, in a limo. This is outwardly juxtaposing the way he’s dressed vs the way he is acting. The effect of this is a provocative critique of how Oscar is living a poor style of life, working from dusk to dawn every day, all in return for what makes you “rich”. This richness is portrayed by money, not livelihood. This theme is further shown after he gets shot by the banker’s security team. This scene gives the shock factor of him being completely fine after being shot many times. This is portrayed to be “part of the job”, but goes to show how much pain people go through for money.
Throughout the movie, Oscar keeps getting asked if he wants to quit. He says no, proclaiming he still loves his job, which clearly isn’t true. This job is the embodiment of the dark side of the American dream. That’s my takeaway from the film, or maybe Carax just did some drugs and said let’s make a movie.
I agree with what you have tried to put forward with this ideology. I would like to further add to this by recalling the part where he had to give up on love because both of them had ‘appointments’ to go to and this was the first time they were meeting in 20 years.
This might be a commentary about how people are willing to give up on anything that makes them happy just to make money. They are also ready to shoot other people for their jobs which I think refers to the idea of hurting others in the name of a job or business. This highlights the degrading effect the materialistic world has had on Human Beings.
This movie is a commentary on where the materialistic world was brought us. What we need to understand is work is a part of our lives and not our entire life. I think Holy Motors is an exaggerated but apt portrayal of our lives in a world run by money and success.
I like how your analysis of “Holy Motors” delves into the film’s thematic exploration of the dark nature of capitalism and the sacrifices individuals make for their jobs. The portrayal of Oscar’s various roles symbolizes the extreme lengths people go to for financial gain, illustrating the corrosive effects of greed. The juxtaposition of Oscar, dressed as a homeless person, eating sushi in a limo, highlights the contradictions inherent in his lifestyle, emphasizing the pursuit of wealth over genuine well-being. The shocking scene where Oscar is shot and remains unscathed underscores the idea that enduring pain is normalized in the pursuit of monetary success. The recurring question of whether Oscar wants to quit, despite his insistence that he loves his job, reflects the illusion of the American dream and the toll it takes on individuals. Your interpretation captures the film’s commentary on the sacrifices people make for the promise of prosperity, providing a thought-provoking perspective on “Holy Motors.”