“New York City – a place with an oftentimes sharply visible wealth disparity is an overt reference to Dell and Philip’s differences.” (Brunjes, 5)
The Upside is based on a true story about a French billionaire and an Algerian immigrant. The Intouchables (2011) was the source that Upside director, Neil Burger, adapted for American audiences.
The relocation of the story from Paris to New York City makes the film more straightforward for American audiences.
New York City not only carries these wealth disparity themes but also allows English-speaking audiences to avoid subtitles.
“Most American remakes are but pale copies of the ingenious, eccentric, culturally specific movies that preceded them.
The challenge has been to convince viewers in the United States to overcome the ‘one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles’ (as Bong cleverly put it when he won the Golden Globe.)” (Holtmeier & Park-Primiano, 5)
Layered Discrimination
The Americanization of the film lens itself explores the ties between socioeconomic and racial disparities in United States history.
For example, Dell is characterized by his love for “The Queen “Aretha Franklin” He references Philip’s penthouse as a plantation, and he frequently references Philip’s assistant Yvonne as “the White lady.”
A pivotal scene in the film occurs when Philip is thrown a surprise birthday party against his wishes.
He snaps at Yvonne that he can control very few things in his life, and throwing a birthday party takes control away from him.
Dell sees this interaction and doesn’t have any sympathy for Philip. He says he’s sorry that Philip has a kind assistant and has to have a surprise party in his expensive penthouse with his wealthy friends.“ Screw your privilege, man; some of us have real problems.” Philip is offended.
There are hard truths in life that Philip, a billionaire, isn’t accustomed to hearing because of his wealth and people’s sensitive treatment of him due to his disability.
Intersectionality
Comparing racial and ableist discrimination is difficult because of intersectionality. However, racial discrimination’s connections to economic status cannot be overlooked. Philip is only disabled.
On a social hierarchy, he has more privileges than Dell does. Philip has no sympathy for Dell’s “real problems” because his criminal record and neglect as a father are choices that Dell made. Philip didn’t choose to be disabled and lose his abilities. He has a right to be angry.
The assumption Dell had a choice whether he served time is borderline racial profiling. The socioeconomic and racial factors are ignored.
Earlier in the film, Dell tells Philip when he went to prison, his father said, “welcome home.” The incarceration disparity is not Dell’s fault.
Philip is blinded by his disdain for his special needs; he doesn’t recognize his privilege and attitude.
This argument helps him realize he needs to apologize for the kind gesture, whether he wanted it. It is a sign people care about him, not just for him physically.
Sources
Brunjes, Alexandra. “Cranston Shines in Remake of ‘The Upside’.” UWIRE Text, 18 Jan. 2019, p. 1. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A570116350/AONE? u=nysl_oweb&sid=sitemap&xid=0f5ad4e9. Accessed 1 Jan. 2023.
Holtmeier, Matthew, and Sueyoung Park-Primiano. “Ableism in Avatar: The Transhuman, Postcolonial Rapprochement to Bioregionalism.” Studies in the Humanities, vol. 46, no. 1-2, Mar. 2020, pp. 135+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673944097/AONE? u=nysl_oweb&sid=googleScholar&xid=036924f3. Accessed 17 July 2022.