Are Films That Criticise the Audience Effective?

Is it wise to wag a finger at the viewer?

Photo by Daniel Guerra on Unsplash

My views on preachy storytelling of any kind are well-documented. A story is not a sermon, or a political speech, and should not be approached as such. Sermonising, specifying, or editorialising has the effect of turning off the very people the artist is trying to reach. What’s more, if you’re a contrarian like me, it will likely turn you against the film (or book, play, TV series, etc), even if you agree with the message. That’s why I often bristle when rubbing up against films by Ken Loach or Spike Lee. Such films are often well-acted and directed, and it isn’t that I necessarily disagree with what they are trying to say (though I sometimes take vehement issue with Loach’s politics), but I can’t abide having a finger wagged in my face.