Analysis of 'Reality Bites': Universal Truths and Important Realizations Revealed by Looking Back at 90s Values
🎬Synopsis
Lelaina graduates at the top of her class and delivers the valedictorian speech. Dreaming of becoming a documentary filmmaker, she begins working as an assistant director at a television station after graduation.
While sharing an apartment with her college friend Vickie, who landed a job at the apparel brand GAP, Troy—a philosophy major who dropped out of college—unexpectedly moves in. Amidst their strange communal life, Lelaina and Troy constantly clash while being acutely aware of each other.
One day, following a minor car accident, Lelaina meets Michael, who works at MTV. Michael, who works in the same video industry and empathizes with Lelaina's dream of making documentaries, begins to deepen his relationship with her...
🤔Analysis
The film depicts young people facing the 'reality bites'—the harshness of the real world—that one painfully realizes while transitioning from student life to the workforce. It is a charming work that offers the fun of both nostalgia and a fresh perspective for those watching it again, filled with 90s fashion, music, and pop culture.
The U.S. economy, which had been in recession from 1990 to 1991, gradually recovered thereafter, but the unemployment rate remained high at 7% until 1994. This film symbolically reflects the values and romantic views of the generation known as Generation X, as well as the society of that time.
Ben Stiller, known for 'There's Something About Mary,' 'Night at the Museum,' and 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,' both stars in and directs this film, marking his directorial debut. His role as an MTV employee in the film seems related to the fact that he had a segment called 'The Ben Stiller Show' on MTV in the early 90s. The renowned actor Danny DeVito is also listed as a producer.
The film features Ethan Hawke, for whom this was his fourth film after his debut in 'Explorers' (1985), and Winona Ryder, who had already built a significant career with 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990), 'Night on Earth' (1991), and 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992).
Their fashion, the small items decorating their rooms, the oddly noticeable Diet Coke, and the familiar songs all vividly reflect the culture of that time. The atmosphere and vibe created by adding comedic elements to this are not only entertaining but also strangely comforting.
The film is easy to relate to because it depicts universal experiences that transcend generations, such as friendships cracking over trivial matters through Lelaina, the sense of frustration when nothing goes right, and the tendency to turn to spirituality during such times.
On the other hand, a character like Troy—who is intelligent but has high pride and is stubborn, causing things not to last and falling into a negative loop by using his intelligence as an excuse—is also a relatable archetype.
The sense of frustration shared by the two might reflect the social background of the time, but in the long run, it is something everyone experiences eventually. In fact, if you don't experience it early on, you might end up dropping out... The important thing is how you recover and get back on track.
What do you think of Troy's words in the final scene's answering machine message: 'Why is there so much contradiction in life?'
