Office Space, 1999

Deceptively complex, Office Space is much more than it appears to be on the surface. Presented as a witty comedy about the tribulations of frustrated office worker Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston), Office Space presents an allegory for the path to enlightenment as well as Jungian self-realization. Peter Gibbons lives as a slave to his hated job. Forced to carry the heavy burden of his shadow archetype, Gibbons is unable to live with the persona forced upon him by the material necessity represented by his job. Gibbons, analogous to Siddhartha, the titular character of Hermann Hesse’s masterpiece, embarks obliviously on a path to enlightenment. As Siddhartha leaves his privileged life to become an ascetic with nothing but the Self, Gibbons forsakes his responsibilities at work to live without the worries of the material world. In an absurd series of events, a suspension of karma, Gibbons fortune reverses for the positive even as he regularly shows up to work late with no concern for his job at all. Just as Siddhartha leaves the ascetic lifestyle to learn about business and the ways of love, Gibbons acts only to satisfy his id, the unconscious drive for pleasure. Gibbons pleasant reality is short lived however, as karma catches up to him in the form of a failed embezzlement of funds from his company Initech. Upon realizing his mistake Peter attempts to correct it and fate takes over as everyone seemingly ends up where they should be. Peter finds a balance of his Self with a new job clearing the ruins of the despised Initech. Office Space is effective because it operates on multiple levels. It can appeal as a parody of office life, an absurd comedy, or as an allegory for enlightenment. Regardless of how one interprets this film it will reward all viewers with its many humorous tidbits throughout.

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