PHOTOGRAPH JOE PUGLIESE/AUGUST
George Clooney has always led the good life; but that term has carried a meaning that transcends its conventional interpretation, and the 56-year-old actor, director and humanitarian has long believed in the concept of the virtuous life as described by Greek and Roman philosophers. It carries with it the notion of being a good man in the sense of making a contribution to society and adhering to noble goals. That explains, in part, why he has felt a responsibility to make movies that will stand the test of time, while also dedicating himself to political and social causes.
Suburbicon, Clooney’s latest directorial effort, is possibly his most politically charged so far, as he confronts the romantic illusion of 1950s America which, despite its manicured facade, hid a simmering pool of paranoia and racial hysteria. It is based, in part, on the real-life tale of a black family who moved to a white Pennsylvanian suburb only to find their presence sparking riots and outrage. Naturally, the film draws comparisons with the racial tensions so rife in the US, which is no coincidence, as the notoriously left-wing filmmaker points out.