The Minimalists is a 2016 (I'm slow, I know) Netflix film about Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, childhood friends and the duo behind The Minimalists blog/podcasts.
Through their stories about how they came around to the idea of minimalism and following them on their book signing tour, we are introduced to a number of ordinary folks who have embraced the same concepts.
Both of them have had difficult childhoods (divorced parents, brought up by single moms). Millburn found out his mom had Stage 4 cancer during an evening late at work, after missing several calls from her. He was not available for her when she needed his support, and around the same time of her passing, his marriage of 6 years fell apart. He realised the emptiness of pursuing conventional definitions of "success" and began to re-fashion his whole life.
Nicodemus was experiencing the same ennui from his corporate job and noticed the difference in his friend. This started his journey into minimalism as well.
Peppered throughout the film are interviews with psychologists, economists and proponents of a less consumption focused lifestyle. Unlike other documentaries, this show is short on data ("Americans spend X% more of their income on frivolous stuff compared to the 1970s!" and heavily reliant on interviews.
I am not sure if the film is trying to convince viewers of the emptiness of living your life according to conventional society's definitions of success. If it is, I suspect it will work if the viewer has shared the same experiences as the protagonists. Many of the interviewees who took up the minimalist lifestyle were already unhappy with the way they lived or experienced an epiphany via a major life event.
Take for example, the guy who used to work on Wall Street, clawing his way to make junior partner at his firm. He realised once he accept the promotion, he will be locked into the deeply unhappy life he is leading, as he will not be able to walk away from that amount of money on his paycheck. To some, this kind of opportunity is a once in a lifetime shot at financial security, and he is a fool for turning away. However, to some folks who are already walking the Path of FIRE, this may sound familiar ("I know what you mean").
In summary, it feels a little like a sermon against the ills of the modern lifestyle of earning a salary to consume and earning more to consume more, while also a paean to virtues of opting out of the rat race. For those of us who are already living some aspects of this unconventional lifestyle, this is a nice feel good show, reminding you that you are not alone in your weird little way of thinking.
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