Filmmaker Boots Riley made his directorial debut this month with the film “Sorry to Bother You,” a satirical and captivating onslaught of the senses. Not only is the film madly entertaining, but it succeeds in presenting an absurdist, subversive take on the American labor force and the race relations that reside within.

The film has been in limited release since July 6 and went into wide release this past weekend. It has grossed over $1 million, according to Box Office Mojo and received rave reviews at the Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered on January 20.

The film stars Lakeith Stanfield as Cassius Green, a man who begins working for a telemarketing company, soon rising in the ranks by using his “white voice” (dubbed by David Cross) to make sales to white clients. Once he makes it into an exclusive “Power Caller” rank of the company’s most elite employees, he learns a dire secret about the company’s sister venture, WorryFree Inc.

From the very first moments, the creative voice of the film shines through. The setting of an alternate reality highlights the absurdity of everyday situations and drives the strong comedic tone of the film.

Green is always at odds with what’s happening around him, a passive figure in a world controlling him from all sides, led only by ambition that soon entraps him.

The film’s pacing is chaotic. The visuals are at times overwhelming and the story as a whole feels like a derailed train, barreling forward at breakneck speed. However, this is all by design; though the narrative seems to lack control, the film is innovative in its storytelling and looks nothing like any other film to debut in recent years.

At its core lies a satire of human exploitation in the labor force. Characters are wrapped up into a system that dehumanizes them, aided by the use of an almost cartoonish villain, Steve Lift, the CEO of WorryFree, played by Armie Hammer.

A lurid subplot reveals criticism of television culture, made apparent by the No. 1 T.V. in this version of reality, “I Got the S#@! Beat out of Me,” where contestants are beaten onscreen for public entertainment. The film also comments on the value of money and what a person will sacrifice in order to have it.

Overall, the film feels like a madly entertaining fever dream filled to the brim with laughs as well as sharp social commentary. The only way to really understand what this film is about is to see it. A successful introduction for Riley, the film has all the energy and spirit of a debut film, but with substance to keep audiences thinking for hours after viewing.