User:HeroTimeInfinity/Life and debt

Summary

Directed by Stephanie Black, with narration provided by Jamaica Kincaid, Life and Debt is a documentary that focuses on the economic and social situation that had risen in Jamaica due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank forcing the government to enact significant trade liberalization, privatization, and deregulation. These situations resulted in many Jamaicans having their healthcare and education stripped away, as well as an inability to make a profit from their products, which created a significant division among the social classes.

The film examines the long aftermath of Jamaica's freedom in 1962 from Great Britain, in which the oil crisis in 1973 would end up creating a financial crisis for the country forcing the government to accept a conditional loan from the IMF and restructure its economy in their attempt to end the crisis, their efforts would end up failing and end up put Jamaica in $4.6 billion in debt. The restrictions implemented would damage the Jamaican way of life, with increased free trade making private businesses move into Jamaica's free zone to take advantage of the low wage workers to create their products, with the workers forced to endure long hours for low pay and harsh work environments.

As a result of the government's expenditure, healthcare and education were cut, and farmers lost a considerable amount of their subsidies. The privatization and commodification of the tourism industry would end up creating a divide among the people, with many owners going great lengths to protect their property. Ordinary people suffered greatly due to increased debt, and their inability to make any actual profits while enduring the results of education and healthcare cuts by the government. Few would end up benefiting from the implemented neoliberal principles, with the vast majority experiencing greater inequality and suffering from the policies.

The documentary features various Jamaican farmers, workers, and Rastafarians] Former Jamaican Prime Minister [[Michael Manley who critiques the system of international financial institution loans, viewing the structural adjustments as an attack on the sovereignty of many former colonial nations and suggesting the system is actually more akin to imperialism or neocolonialism.

Reviews

Roger Ebert, a film critic for the Chicago Sun Times, gave the movie a three out of four-star rating and described it as “a harsh indictment, but persuasive”.

Received an overall score of 90% on both the Tomatometer and Audience Score from the Rotten Tomatoes website.

On June 15, 2001, Stephen Holden of the New York Times, wrote a review titled “FILM REVIEW; One Love, One Heart, Or a Sweatshop Economy?”, in which he describes the film as a powerful documentary. He says that “The movie offers the clearest analysis of globalization and its negative effects that I've ever seen on a movie or television screen”.

On February 26, 2003, Jamie Russell from BBC gave it a four out of five-star rating and described the movie as brilliant. She explains that Stephanie Black’s hits toward the tourism industry and lack of options to change the situation leaves audiences with nothing more than simply being angry about everything.

On March 25, 2003, Andrew Pulver of “The Guardian” gave it four out of five stars. He stressed the importance of the movie and explained that anyone with any interest in globalization should watch it. He describes it as “a detailed, poignant examination of Jamaica's parlous economic plight”.

David Nusair from “Reel Film Reviews” had a bit of a different opinion on the movie. On August 1, 2003 he gave the movie a one out of four-star rating, commenting, “Try to imagine the most boring lecture you've ever sat through, and you might have a vague conception of what it's like watching Life and Debt”. He explains that the move is one-sided, and that Stephanie Black’s narrow-minded perspective gives a bias approach in the film. He points out her inability to stay focused throughout the film and the impact of her condescending tone regarding the tourists coming to Jamaica.

IMDB users have given the film an overall weighted average rating of 7.5/10 using words such as informative, important, excellent, and very powerful to describe it.

Soundtrack

"G7" by Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers

"One Love" by Bob Marley

"Work" by Bob Marley

"Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley

"One Love" by The Wailers

"One Love Remix" by Bill Laswell

"No Woman, No Cry" by Dean Fraser

"Circumstances" by Buju Banton

"Destiny" by Bujuu Banton

"Zimbabwe" by Dean Fraser

"Fortunes of Love" by Suzanne Couch and Brian Jobson

"Chantilly Lace" by J.P. Richardson

"Filthy" by H. Browne

"Give Them the Ride Morgan Heritage Remix" by Sizzla

"Day-O The Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belafonte

Nyabinghi Chants

"Life and Debt" by Mutabaruka

"Island In The Sun" by Irving Burgie and Harry Belafonte

"Be Still Babylon" by Rolando E. McLean

"Fools Die" by Peter Tosh

"Raid The Barn" by Anthony B. Premieres and Releases

Life and Debt premiered in the United States April 22nd 2001 at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film then opened in select theaters in New York, New York on June 16th 2001. It was not until two years later that the documentary premiered in England during the Commonwealth Film Festival on July 5th 2003 and opened in theaters February 28th 2003. After being shown at the at the Singapore Film Festival in April of that same year, the film went on to have a limited theater release in Austria in May. June 24th 2003 saw the film released on DVD in the United States. After that it was also released in France, Denmark and Japan. { https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284262/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ov_inf}


 * 1) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284262/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ov_inf

Film Festival Awards


 * 2004 FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU FILM INSULAIRE, OLE DE GROIX, SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
 * 2004 PARIS HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL, SPECIAL JURY PRIZE.
 * CINEAMBIENTE INT. ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FEST. 2002 TEEN JURY BEST FILM OF FESTIVAL, TURIN, ITALY
 * ONE WORLD 2002-PRAGUE HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL-AUDIENCE AWARD BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL
 * ONE WORLD MEDIA AWARDS-FINALIST, INTERNATIONAL PREMIER AWARD, ENGLAND
 * BEST DOCUMENTARY AT THE JAMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL.
 * CRITICS JURY AWARD, HONORABLE MENTION "BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL"  INDEPENDENT FEATURE PROJECT/WEST LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL

1. www.lifeanddebt.org

2. https://www.imdb.com