Movie Review Review: Is “Hillbilly Elegy” Really ‘Poverty Porn’?

The Irony

Poverty porn is when poverty is depicted in media to invoke sympathy in the viewers, which then results in some sort of gain by the creators of that media. This is usually assuming that the audience is privileged. This is going to sound highly opinionated, but ironically, privledged people always think that it is their job to be the voice of the marginalized.

I’m sure a lot of the people of Appalachia did not appreciate this backwards portrayal of the region. However, if they were to voice that concern they would be worried about their image. Privledged people are also just as concerned with their image. The difference is when the represented try to fend for the misrepresented then the result is that the represented only maintain their status. The misreprented seem angry and the represented seem compassionate.

The privileged voice what they consider to be socially acceptable and in doing so demonstrate the compassion that they are desperately trying to avoid as an audience. Rather than exploiting the image of the poor, their supposed outrage about exploitation exploits the average ‘progressive’ viewer. The majority of the reviewers are more driven by a perceived obligation than a genuine concern.

My Reception of the Film

There’s the author, the filmmakers, and reviewers. I’ve been solely referring to the reviewers so far. The author is sketchy and the filmmakers were mere opportunist. (COVID boredom and the opioid crisis).

Here’s my ethos:

My mother was a drug addict and my father served in the Marines for 20 years. (Both elements of “The Hillbilly Elegy”). I think they both would love the movie. My aunt is the one who recommended it to me because she if it reminded her of my mom and I. Upon seeing the film, I was a bit uncomfortable with some of it, but it was not an entirely inaccurate portrayal.

Generational Curses

I remember when my dad would take his mother to get groceries, and she would verbatim say things like, “Where’s my black bag?! I need my drugs!”. It was slightly comical but it gave me a picture of my parents’ upbringing. Things like these made my father really big on overcoming adversity and defining who you really are.

My mom also had an alcoholic father. She was an addict as well but she had her own distinctions such as emotional availability and unconditional love. Both of my parents always sought to give me a better life than they had growing up.

This touched on in the movie when J.D.’s sister brings up how with each generation came a better life. At the end of the film he says, “Where we come from is who we are, but we chose everyday who we become”. Maybe the filmmakers didn’t go about it the right way, but the message is on point.

Takeaway

The reviews that gave “Hillbilly Elegy” had no other choice but criticize the premise of the film. I personally did not find it too offensive and the thought never crossed my mind that this was ‘poverty porn’. Then again, I am not hell bent on calling out every single offense of media and current events. As a wise man once told me, “If you take something personal personal that wasn’t meant to be personal then you’re a fool. If you take something personal personal that was meant to be personal then you’re an even bigger fool”.

I seriously doubt the filmmakers thought they themselves were the voice of the people. They probably just thought J.D. Vance had every right to concoct such a story. The thing is, when you grow up like that you grow up with a chip on your shoulder. There exist a pride in success that is primarily fueled by resentment. That is the real issue with the story.

The cast was phenomenal. If it is ‘Oscar Bait’ then so be it. I give the movie 4 out of 5 stars. I’m not afraid to like the movie. Come on! It isn’t “The Love Guru”! You do not have to be offended if unless that is what you truly desire.