Downsizing

Scientists have come up with an innovative solution to the overpopulation crisis – ‘downsizing’. This breakthrough means shrinking people to about five inches tall which drastically reduces the resources and space needed for that person. In exchange, these people are given a load of social benefits – brand new, secure and decadent micro-communities with endless recreation opportunities, automatic upgrades on all public transport, and so on and so on. Tired of scrimping and saving, Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and his wife decide to downsize, but Paul starts to realise that his new utopia isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

This film is more of a social satire than a scifi, with plenty of laughs from Christophe Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, and Kristen Wiig. Alexander Payne, director of Sideways, The Descendants and Nebraska brings us another comic and thought-provoking film; this time reflecting on the limits of consumerism, being green, and class privilege.

Gail Marshall