false hope and disillusionment

His films like *The Wrestler* and *Black Swan* brutally chronicle protagonists whose desperate dreams collide with harsh reality, leaving them shattered.

Works such as *Hereditary* and *Midsommar* systematically dismantle characters' illusions of safety, control, and familial belonging.

Her films *The Rider* and *Nomadland* poignantly explore how dignity and meaning persist despite the collapse of American promises and stability.