fame and exploitation

His masterpiece 'Sunset Boulevard' is the definitive exploration of fame's corrupting influence and the exploitation of aging starlets in Hollywood.

His films obsessively dissect power dynamics and exploitation within relationships, most notably in 'The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant' and 'Despair'.

His visceral films like 'The Wrestler' and 'Black Swan' expose the psychological toll of fame-seeking and the cruel exploitation of performers' bodies and minds.