The author analyzes the Pixar movie Ratatouille through the lens of class mobility and poverty. They share their own experience of being a poorer student at a rich school and how it relates to the movie's themes. The author argues that the film portrays a world where the wealthy hold power and the poor are forced to live in the margins. They see Remy, the rat protagonist, as a symbol of the poor who must navigate this system to achieve his dreams.
The author highlights the character of Skinner, who embodies the capitalist spirit, and how he is opposed to Remy's creativity and passion. They also note that the film portrays a world where bloodlines and social status determine one's opportunities, and that Remy's success is largely due to his connection to Gusteau's son.
However, the author criticizes the film's portrayal of stealing as a moral absolute, arguing that it oversimplifies the complexities of poverty and survival. They compare this to the Disney movie Aladdin, which takes a more nuanced approach to the issue of stealing.
Ultimately, the author concludes that while Ratatouille offers some positive messages about the importance of remembering one's roots and the power of allyship, its portrayal of the system and the possibilities for change are more ambiguous. They suggest that the film's message is more about finding success within the existing system rather than challenging it.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator attended an art school where students were expected to spend a lot of money.
2. The narrator was one of the poorer students and had to borrow materials or buy them secondhand.
3. Paris was the 15th most expensive place to live at the time of Ratatouille's release.
4. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Paris as the most expensive place to live, tied with Zurich and Hong Kong.
5. The film Ratatouille features a character named Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming a chef.
6. Remy's family lives off the land and other people's garbage to survive.
7. Remy's passion for cooking is discouraged by his father, who thinks it's a waste of time.
8. Remy repurposes materials around him to create kitchenware and cooks with a combination of other people's trash and foraged food.
9. Remy eventually hits a wall and realizes he needs to cross a boundary to progress as a cook.
10. Remy trespasses onto human territory and discovers a kitchen where he can cook.
11. The film features a character named Linguini, a poor person who is forced to live in the nooks and crannies of a better world.
12. Linguini's apartment is cramped and musty, and he barely owns any possessions.
13. Linguini is forced to work as a garbage boy in a kitchen where he is mistreated by the chef, Skinner.
14. Skinner is the embodiment of capitalism and only cares about what sells.
15. Linguini and Remy team up to create a dish that impresses a food critic, Anton Ego.
16. Ego is a wealthy food critic who has become disconnected from his humble beginnings.
17. Remy's success is attributed to the support of people who have been through similar struggles.
18. The film features a character named Colette, a woman who is also an outsider in the culinary world.
19. Colette empathizes with Remy and Linguini's situation and helps them in their time of need.
20. The film suggests that success is not just about individual talent, but also about the support of others and the ability to navigate the system.
21. The film's moral priorities are ambiguous, and it has been interpreted in different ways by audiences.
22. The film's portrayal of stealing food is complex, and it has been seen as both a necessary act of survival and a morally wrong choice.
23. The film's ending is also ambiguous, and it can be interpreted as either a happy ending or a commentary on the limitations of the system.