You Need This
Ryan Andrej Lough / United States / 2025 / World Premiere / 84 min
A revealing film about the vicious cycle of consumerism and the destructive power of hyper-capitalism. Can we break the grip of the system before it is too late?
As you read this, millions of products are being bought and soon thrown away. We are filling our shopping carts, thinking less and longing for more. Our basic needs have become cogs in a profit machine where we work and consume until we die. But who really controls the system and can we break free? ‘You Need This’ explores how consumerism and hyper-capitalism shape our lives, society and planet.
From mass marketing, advertising and the manipulation of our dreams to the pursuit of material happiness, the 21st century economic system is destroying our shared planet, creating enormous wealth among a small elite but leaving the rest of us with a huge bill. But we still have time to rethink what we really need.
Through sharp analysis, expert interviews and biting satire, we understand our own role in an economic model on the brink of collapse and what we can do to change course.