Generation Wealth 2018

Overview

Generation Wealth is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Lauren Greenfield. The film, which has a runtime of one hour and fifty minutes, was released in the United States on January 18, 2018. It serves as a companion piece to Greenfield's 2017 book and photo exhibition of the same name. The documentary features appearances by Lauren Greenfield, Florian Homm, and Bret Easton Ellis. Drawing from twenty-five years of the director's photography and film projects, the documentary examines themes of youth culture, gender, body image, and affluence. The narrative highlights the growing divide between the wealthy and those with fewer resources, focusing on a societal shift where image is prioritized over substance. Through various portraits, the film explores how subjects who cannot achieve actual wealth often pursue its trappings regardless of the financial cost. The project reflects on how the modern world has increasingly focused on money and the rising expense of the American dream, documenting a fundamental change in societal value systems.