Life + Debt

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Product Details

Director : Stephanie Black
Actor : Yami Bolo, Buju Banton, Michael Manley, Belinda Becker, Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Format : NTSC, Widescreen
Aspect Ratio : 1.85:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 9781567303117
Product Group : DVD
Release Date : 2007-03-01
Studio : New Yorker Video
UPC : 717119830342

ASIN : B00008NNPK

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Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

Set to a beguiling reggae beat, Life and Debt takes as its subject Jamaica's economic decline in the 20th century. The story has reverberations in the plight of other third-world nations blindsided by globalization, like Ghana and Haiti. After England granted Jamaica independence in 1962, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) stepped in with a series of loans. These loans came with strings attached--the kind that would eventually plunge the country $7 billion into debt, stranded without the resources to dig themselves out. Although IMF officials get the chance to have their say, it's clear where filmmaker Stephanie Black's sympathies lie--with the country's underemployed farmers and sweatshop workers. Jamaica Kinkaid (A Small Place) penned the narration, while the soundtrack features some of the "imports" with which this island nation remains mostly closely associated: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Mutabaruka, who performs the title track. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Standing ovation for a phenomenal documentary! (2006-03-30)

This is a documentary chronicling the neo-colonialism of the 21st century. When I watched this film, I was already aware of the unsustainable and detrimental policies of the IMF and the World Bank, and I already viewed the tourist industry in so-called "third world" nations with a critical eye. But this documentary has brought home to me a plight of a people that are often viewed and portrayed by "first world" countries as lazy criminals who do not want to work towards a better future and yet, nothing could be further from the truth. With heartrending and real interviews, a meaningful and vibrant soundtrack, and Jamaica Kincaid's narrative voiceover, get ready to reassess your perspectives on your role as a tourist and as a "first world" consumer. Until we allow films like 'Life and Debt' to aid our awareness of 'economic slavery', we are all complicit in this process which privileges a select few nations and impoverishes others.

Ignorant People (2006-01-20)

First off this was an amazing documentary which allowed every side to express their expert and personal opinion in regards to the situation Jamaica has found itseld in. In response to William Pantin from Delray Beach, FL I must urge you to read more history but try out less Euro-centric accounts. When you compare Hawaii and Tahiti to Jamaica you are forgetting a huge part of human history called slavary. Jamaica was one of the biggest ports in the slave trade and this laid the foundation for the country which is a tough leg to start out on in a society that still glorifies and accepts imperialism. This movie is only a piece in the puzzle of a history that is fragmented and incomplete but the information is out there if you search for it.

The director of the film is not telling people to not enjoy their vacation but you must be conscious of the small things that the so called "developed" world buy into have a HUGE impact on other peoples around the world. Through conscious buying and collective consumer reaction we can change how these huge corporations operate. If we don't buy they cannot sell meaning they will not make a profit. When a business does not make a profit it will create the product or service the consumers demand. Yet we have detached ourselves from this power we weild and trust in our "leaders" to make the right choices.

Make those small choices in life that can ensure we can all live in prosperity.

Peace and Much Respect

It is what it is (2004-07-09)

There are no invisible slaves here, just arrogant caucasions who refused to accept the facts about being savages who killed their way to the top, and yet manages to call this being civilize. tsk tsk If anyone hasnt seen Michael Moore movie about the 911 I suggest that you all go see it to see the truth of the matter. Indeed, nothing has change with ol'Euro-corporate mentality ( survival of the fittest is a joke). Its more like who kills and gains first will be in control when the war ends. We all know that Europeans were not handed ppls resources, the Europeans took ppls resources and use ppl as slaves to enrich their own lives, as can still be seen today in third world countries were the ppl are kept in concentration camps and are forced to work in most cases and are under paid to survive even to the minimum level with their countries cost of living. There are a lot of European companies who are benefiting from these crimes against humanity. So, this movie is just one out of many showing the psychological differences between ppl based on how they developed and what they inherit to survive. It will be many more yrs before humanity is on the same page, and to get there, chaos cannot be in the equation. Nor excuses..................

Indebted (2004-06-18)

The other reviews here are elegant, and I'll ask you to trust them when they urge you to see and support the film. I will add, however, that it's strikingly clear we're witnessing a new era of slavery and servitude here, one that is less direct yet equally immoral. The argument that some critics have posted, stating that Jamaica's problems could be solved by a better tourism industry, is akin to contending that a violated woman ought to "pretty herself up and enjoy it more." Before we offer suggestions, maybe we should first put ourselves in her shoes - and that's what this film gives us a chance to do. And I'm indebted.

Not persuasive enough...! (2004-05-24)

I should first explain that I had very high expectations for this movie, thinking it would make a good case for how free markets and globalization can sometimes destroy peoples lives in a merciless fashion. This movie was aimed only at trying to elicit anger at corporate greed, or at the IMF, but fails miserably in examining the root causes of Jamaica's problems.

Where it succeeds: I was shocked at how high the interest rates collected by the IMF/World Bank are. I would have thought they would be on a par with an American "student loan"...! Also, the going-ons in the Free-trade zone certainly showed the dark side of corporate greed, and outlandish abuse of basic human rights of workers... For these, the movie gets 2 stars.

Where it fails: Attempting to make tourists seem as uncaring, selfish, and self-absorbed, surely will not help the much needed tourist industry in Jamaica. Why shouldn't a tourist desire a trouble-free, guilt-free, and relaxing vacation? But, more importantly, did not do a good job of proving or even examining whether the industries affected by globalization are industries in which Jamaica WOULD enjoy a competitive advantage, given better fiscal policy or less restrictive conditions by the IMF and the World Bank.

The film never answers what any sensible viewer might ask themselves: Why can't Jamaica develop a similar tourist economy, such as those present in Hawaii and Tahiti, which enjoy much higher standards of living, despite being further isolated, and also having to pay high prices to import most goods? If they are very different, how so? How could this difference be used to an advantage?

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