Cinema’s Role in Shaping Memory & History: The Bling Ring Case

By Zora Kings

Cinema’s Role in Shaping Memory and History: The Bling Ring Case

“The danger of the dramatic film as a vehicle for history is… fostering an illusory sense that the viewer truly understands another person’s position or how the past felt to those who lived then” -Alison Lansberg 

If there is one thing that movies are great for, it is giving audiences the ability to feel connected to new stories. Movies make us cry, laugh, fall in love, and experience the characters’ emotions . They allow us to jump into the screen and transport into whatever world we choose. Movies are also portals into the past.Historical films are so popular and loved by millions because these docu dramas and documentaries offer viewers a visual, intimate, and relatable glimpse into historical events (Lansberg). 

While these films are excellent forms of entertainment and storytelling, it is important to note that docudramas and documentaries make us rethink what we think we obectively know about history. They create space for different viewpoints, present new interpretations, and can even influence how we remember historical events (White). Films have a profound impact on memory as films blur the boundaries between individual and cultural memories. Individuals may struggle to distinguish their own experiences from those derived from popular culture (Sturken). 

The Bling Ring Heist is an example of how cinema can influence the memory and history of an event. “The Bling Ring” is a name given to a group of teenagers who successfully robbed multiple A-list celebrities in Hollywood for one year. This series of robberies headlined news and articles, making it one of the most high-profile crimes in Hollywood. The publicity of these burglaries inspired three media narratives, including the docudrama The Bling Ring (2013) directed by Sofia Coppola, and the HBO Max documentary The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (2023) directed by Erin Lee Carr. 

The Bling Ring, also known as The Burglar Bunch, was composed of seven teenagers based in Calabasas, California. Between 2008-2009, they stole about $3 million in cash and belongings from multiple high-profile celebrities in Los Angeles, California. The ringleaders of the Bling Ring were Rachel Lee and Nick Prugo. The other members were Alexis Neiers, Johnny Ajar, Courtney Ames, Roy Lopez Jr., and Diana Tamayo. Most of the thefts were from socialite Paris Hilton, whose home the group targeted on multiple occasions. Other targeted celebrities included Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr, Rachel Bilson, Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green, Lindsay Lohan, and Audrina Patridge (“The Bling Ring”). 

Released in 2013, famous director and screenwriter Sofia Coppola wrote and directed a movie based on this stream of robberies. The movie stars Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, and Leslie Mann. The story follows a group of fame and money-obsessed teenagers who use the internet and social media to track celebrities’ whereabouts to burgle their homes. This docudrama highlights the teenagers’ fascination with stardom and the dopamine rush that came with making more money to fuel their new lifestyle. Coppola portrays the Bling Ring group as shallow, careless, and insecure teenagers, tempted by greed and jealousy. The Bling Ring movie captures a new generation tormented by social status and social media. 

Ten years after Coppola’s movie came out, HBO Max released a documentary called The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring, directed and produced by Erin Lee Carr. The documentary follows Rachel Lee, the supposed ringleader, as she shares her side of the story, telling what motivated her to commit these crimes. Rachel explains how challenging it was being Korean and growing up middle-class in Calabasas, California— a super rich and predominantly white area. The 2000s is portrayed as a time when social media made stardom more accessible and anyone could be famous. Rachel and her team were hungry for fame and money. According to the documentary, these “teenagers were stealing from celebrities that they wanted to emulate”. 

Those unfamiliar with The Bling Ring could watch the docudrama and documentary and notice how they selectively emphasize certain aspects of the story while leaving others out. They portray a group of teenagers willing to break the law in their desperate search for status and riches. The 2000s come across as an era of clout-chasing individuals. They push a narrative that alters the cultural memory of both those involved and those who weren’t. However, in their focus on the thrill of the heist, both films overlook the victims of these crimes, particularly due to their celebrity status. This omission raises critical questions about how society perceives victims—especially wealthy and famous ones. 

The documentary even points out the irony of this oversight while simultaneously sidelining the victims’ experiences. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have spoken out about the trauma they endured. Hilton revealed that she had topless photos stolen and Lohan admitted to feeling so shaken that she couldn’t return home after the burglary. These films neglect and downplay the impact of these burglaries to create more relatable narratives. Afterall, filmmakers want to appeal to audiences who might find it difficult to sympathize with rich millionaires. (“Lindsay Lohan & Paris Hilton’s Bling Ring Testimony Revealed”). 

Ultimately, the Bling Ring Heist serves as a compelling case study of the complex relationship between films, memory, and history. While these films offer captivating narratives, they also expose the limitations of cinematic storytelling and the potential to distort historical reality. As viewers, it’s crucial to approach such films with a critical mindset, recognizing that they often present selective, dramatized versions of events. 

Audiences must remain mindful of the story being pushed and aware of the gaps or biases that may exist. It’s important to fact-check the events depicted in these films to ensure a well-rounded understanding of the real history behind them. As consumers, we too must question and seek the full picture to avoid being misled by surface-level portrayals of history in popular culture.