тιтle: “Materialists” (2025) – A Sharp, Satirical Exploration of Consumerism and Idenтιтy

Rating: ★★★★☆

Materialists (2025) is an unapologetically witty and thought-provoking film that dissects the complexities of modern consumer culture, idenтιтy, and personal ambition. Directed by visionary filmmaker Lily Thompson, this sharp satire feels both timely and timeless, offering a biting commentary on how materialism shapes our lives, relationships, and self-perception. With a stellar ensemble cast featuring Emma Stone, John Boyega, and Zendaya, this film is as emotionally charged as it is humorously critical of the world we live in.

The story revolves around a group of friends—each struggling with their place in a world obsessed with wealth, status, and outward appearances. Emma Stone plays Clara, an ambitious young woman working in the high-powered world of luxury marketing. Clara is charming, driven, and seemingly on top of her game, but she’s constantly questioning her choices and the values she’s been chasing. Her life takes a sharp turn when she’s forced to confront the hollow nature of her materialistic existence after an unexpected encounter with a former friend turned radical philosopher, played by John Boyega.

Boyega’s performance is magnetic as Caleb, a man who has rejected the conventional paths of success and chosen to live a minimalist lifestyle. He challenges Clara’s worldview, forcing her to re-evaluate her own values. His character brings a much-needed intellectual edge to the film, providing the perfect foil to Clara’s fast-paced, high-flying persona. The chemistry between Stone and Boyega is palpable, and their scenes together are some of the most engaging moments in the film.

Zendaya rounds out the core trio as Mila, Clara’s best friend and an influencer who has perfected the art of projecting an idealized version of herself online. Mila’s character is both fascinating and troubling, as her struggle to maintain her digital persona begins to take a toll on her mental health. Zendaya perfectly captures the vulnerability and the facade of the “perfect life” that so many are forced to wear. Mila’s journey is the emotional core of Materialists, highlighting how the pressure to constantly consume and showcase one’s life can lead to emotional and psychological collapse.

The script is sharp and full of biting humor. It expertly balances moments of comedy with poignant reflections on the emptiness of modern consumerism. From Clara’s high-end corporate meetings to the surreal encounters in Caleb’s minimalist apartment, the film showcases the contrasts between the worlds of extreme wealth and radical simplicity, and the uneasy tension that arises when the two collide.

Lily Thompson’s direction brings out the best in her talented cast, with each character’s evolution feeling both organic and profound. The pacing of the film is тιԍнт, with quick-witted dialogue paired with subtle, introspective moments that make you stop and think. Thompson isn’t afraid to slow down the action and let the characters grapple with their inner turmoil, which makes the story resonate on a deeper level.

Visually, Materialists is a feast for the eyes. The production design perfectly captures the sterile opulence of the luxury world Clara inhabits, contrasting it with the bare, almost austere environments that Caleb and Mila retreat to. Cinematographer Daniel Fisher’s striking use of light and shadow emphasizes the emptiness of excess, while the bold, vivid colors used in the scenes involving Mila’s influencer world represent the superficiality of the digital age.

The film’s soundtrack is also worth noting, featuring a blend of modern indie tracks and electronic beats that underscore the sense of disconnection and fragmentation running throughout the story. The music adds an extra layer of emotion to key scenes, subtly enhancing the tension between the characters’ desires and their realizations about themselves.

At its core, Materialists is a critique of the “more is better” mentality that dominates contemporary society. It forces the audience to question the price of success, the danger of living for the approval of others, and the perils of losing touch with what truly matters. While the film’s satirical tone is sharp, it also leaves space for compᴀssion, reminding us that even those who buy into materialism do so because they are searching for meaning and connection.

In conclusion, Materialists is a biting, thought-provoking film that succeeds in both entertaining and challenging its audience. With its stellar performances, especially from Emma Stone, John Boyega, and Zendaya, and its sharp, satirical script, this film is a powerful commentary on the emptiness of modern consumer culture. Whether you find yourself laughing at the absurdity of it all or reflecting on your own relationship with materialism, Materialists is a movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.