In the film examined life, Zizek discusses a theme common in many films: Pollution and the ecological destruction of the planet and how it is not the REAL evil of modern society. The REAL evil is our attempts to extricate ourselves from having to experience the results of that pollution, while simultaneously profiting from its creation. He argues that such ecological disasters will never be prevented unless we force ourselves to live in the muck and the mire of our refuse in some way...to be confronted with our wasteful and self-destructive behavior is the only way in which we will act to prevent it.
There are many, many modern films which present this theme. The Village by M. Knight Shaymalan is really a story about how the Inner Circle has attempted to protect their descendants from the evils of modern capitalist society by carving out an enclosed community. However the REAL evil is manifested by the Inner Circle itself in forcing their children to live in isolation without ever presenting "real life" as an option to them.
Simlarly, both Wall-E and Astro Boy are childrens movies which depict the future of the planet as uninhabitable, while the fortunate humans left have either gone out in space and become fat and lazy (Wall-E) or have constructed a floating city above a ground completely covered with trashed robot parts. In both of these movies, the humans have successfully extricated themselves completely from the Earth and are totally oblivious to what is going on on the surface of the planet.
It is only when they return to the surface and live among the trash that the characters experience true happiness.
Hope this helps.
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