Critics have been slamming Nicola Peltz Beckham’s indie film “Lola” for being exploitative and labeled as “poverty porn.” The movie, written, directed, and starring Peltz Beckham, follows the story of a teenage girl named Lola James living in poverty in middle America, working at a drugstore and a strip club to support herself and her younger brother. Peltz Beckham comes from a privileged background as the daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz and is married to Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest child of David and Victoria Beckham.
Despite her own affluent upbringing, Peltz Beckham delved into the world of poverty to tell Lola’s story, drawing inspiration from her real-life experiences and relationships. The film was released in limited theaters in February and received renewed criticism after a scathing review by The Guardian called it a “vanity project” inundated with harmful tropes. Critics have accused the film of being exploitative of sex work and queer suffering, especially given the stark contrast between Peltz Beckham’s lifestyle and the themes of poverty portrayed in the movie.
The disconnect between Peltz Beckham’s privileged background and the heavy subject material of “Lola” has been a major point of contention among critics, with many questioning the authenticity and appropriateness of telling a story about poverty from such a different perspective. Some reviewers have described the film as poorly scripted and stereotypically melodramatic, while others have praised its visual design. Peltz Beckham has acknowledged the contrast between her own life and that of her character, stating that she did not grow up like Lola but wanted to explore a different perspective through her storytelling.
Prior to the film’s release, Peltz Beckham had spoken about her passion for the project, revealing that she had written the initial script years ago and drawn inspiration from her personal relationships for the characters in the film. Despite the backlash from critics, Peltz Beckham’s directorial debut has sparked discussions about the ethics and responsibilities of filmmakers when portraying sensitive and complex issues such as poverty. The controversy surrounding “Lola” highlights the challenges of navigating themes of socioeconomic disparity in storytelling, especially when the creator comes from a vastly different background than the characters being portrayed.
