contest/wish fulfillment

His films celebrate ordinary people achieving extraordinary dreams against systemic odds, epitomized by 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'You Can't Take It with You.'

He obsessively explores the psychological cost of pursuing ambitions and desires, often showing protagonists consumed by their wishes in 'The Wrestler,' 'Black Swan,' and 'Requiem for a Dream.'

His films probe how desire and competition drive human nature, with 'Rashomon,' 'Ikiru,' and 'Ran' examining the gap between wishes and reality through multiple perspectives.