Ratatouille- an anticapitalist Masterpiece

Pixar’s Ratatouille is one of the greatest animated films of all time and Pixar’s magnum opus. The symbolism is impeccable, the dialogue incredible and ultimately it is just a great, extremely enjoyable film. The politics of the film are somewhat hidden but there is an undeniable commentary on poverty, capitalism, and the patriarchy throughout the masterpiece.

Remy’s passion and talent is cooking, he is incredible at it. However, being a rat (symbolizing the poor), his talent is replaced with a more ‘functional’ job- a poison smeller. Although he is good at this job, he detests doing it. Representing the poor, this shows how in order to survive (and keep his family/clan alive,) the working class often has to accept society as it is(ruled by the bourgeoisie) and work a meaningless, alienating job. For many, working these kinds of pointless jobs is how they survive. Survival comes before attempting social change and for many, the two are not compatible- one example being: workers being fired often for unionizing (the survival comes first, workers will therefore not unionize- thus capitalism and this hierarchy will be upheld). Remy’s dad, Django, symbolizes this view of not attempting change: “The world we live in belongs to the enemy, we have to look out for our own kind”. The working proletariat’s world, through the means of survival(wages), is controlled and can be ruined by the employing bourgeois class, and Remy’s dad doesn’t want to see his cult’s means of subsistence taken away so sees the only option is to play along and take his oppressed role in society, living off the waste and not searching for liberation in the film- as Remy desires. Another example of these viewpoints occurs in the film: As Remy states “I don’t believe there’s no more than this” in response to seeing rat poison (a way in which rats are oppressed by the ruling humans). Django responds “this is the way things are, we can’t change nature”. Here Django is solemnly acknowledging and accepting his oppressed role as “natural” and simply “human nature” in the exact same way many people believe the age-old argument that hierarchies of capitalism, while undeniably exploitative, is ‘human nature’- Jordan Peterson spews almost the exact same lines: “Accept the terrible responsibility of life with eyes wide open” as well as his theory that hierarchy is a part of nature… to prove this point he compares human beings to lobsters, which I will never see as anything close to a valid argument. Seeing this comparison makes Ratatouille instantly a debate of capitalism and human nature and in which, most viewers will side with Remy in this debate and view Django as close-minded yet still, the idea of ‘no functioning alternative’ is still upheld.

Moving on from the rats representing the oppressed, it is clear that comments on capitalism are made through the cooking industry. One of Colette’s first, blatant, harsh lines to Linguini is “How many women do you see in this kitchen” clearly commenting on the patriarchy and how often industries are controlled and run by men. Colette also displays a strong belief in Gusteau’s belief of ‘anyone can cook’ likely because, as a woman, Colette has fought against stereotypes to make her way into the cooking industry. Later on in the film, Colette sees this infamous line in a book as she leaves the restaurant as Linguini shows the kitchen his ‘little chef’- Remy. Colette sees this and recognizes the oppression she faced and sympathizes with Remy as she returns to the kitchen. This shared oppression provides an argument for intersectionality. Colette empathizes with Remy as someone who should be allowed in the kitchen due to his talent (in the film… of course rats should never be allowed in a kitchen in reality). Colette acknowledges the privilege of those around her in her first speech and the discrimination she faced to make her way into a highly male-dominant industry- only 17% of chef positions are held by women. And sees Remy in the same position, showing how the film’s deeper meaning is one of social, intersectional change. Colette acknowledges the liberation of all oppressed classes is key to changing the industry and the society she lives in.

There is much more to be said on this masterpiece of a film, however that will come later.