Review of Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) by Zach B — 18 Jul 2010

Another great film by one of the best documentary filmmakers out there. I really am surprised that this movie isn't getting much love, unless most of the critics are employed by the banks.

The film-making style alone is as good as his other films. No, he does not exactly strive for objectivity, but not everyone should. He has a clear message to give and gives it in a moving and eye-opening style.

The politics...now this is where it heats up. There will always be differences of opinions, and even if you disagree with him on some points, I really have to wonder about those who dismiss this movie outright. As many of the priests interviewed put it (and this is regardless if you're religious or not), the present-day capitalism in America is nothing short of a sin. No person with anything resembling morals can defend it. The difference between these bankers and politicians and the absolute monarchs of the dark ages is, well, not much. You can get thrown in jail, kicked out of your house and robbed blind under the perfect sanctity of the law.

Yet, this movie is not just about exposing what we already know (that power corrupts), but it offers some possible solutions to the problem, both by looking at the past and present day alternatives. "Simplistic and unrealistic" some may call the bread-bakery in California example, but to me it's just giving up without putting too much thought into it.

It's a movie that tries to encourage action, even though it might feel a little bit hopeless. For the fact is that any large-scale human society, regardless of what system it is under, will succumb to corruption, greed and misuse of power sooner or later. It is something that can not be avoided, yet it doesn't mean we should give up and not try anyway. It doesn't mean the guilty parties should be left to do whatever they want. But the only people that can bring about change is the people, if they ever decide to stop being sheep and do something about it.

This was a little bit like V for Vendetta the documentary.