Life and Debt (2001) ( Life & Debt )

Life and Debt (2001) (DVD) (*)

~~$20.99~~ $14.97

Original Title: Life & Debt
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
France ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
82 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Music Video
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2001 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Stephanie Black

Written By:
Jamaica Kincaid

Actors:
Belinda Becker ..... Narrator (voice)
Buju Banton ..... Himself - Singer
Horst Köhler ..... Himself - Director, International Monetary Fund (archive footage) (as Horst Kohl
Michael Manley ..... Himself - Former Prime Minister of Jamaica
Stanley Fischer ..... Himself - Deputy Director International Monetary Fund
Michael Witter ..... Himself - Professor of Economics, University of West Indies (as Dr. Michael Witt
David Coore ..... Himself - Former Minister of Finance, Jamaica
Bill Clinton ..... Himself - President of the United States (archive footage)
Jean-Bertrand Aristide ..... Himself - President, Haiti
Yami Bolo ..... Himself - Singer
Kathy Owen ..... News Anchor
Jerry J. Rawlings ..... Himself - Former President, Ghana (archive footage) (as Jerry Rawlings)

Synopsis:

In 1962, Jamaica won its independence from the United Kingdom, and the island nation, which had long struggled with poverty, attempted to use its agricultural resources in order to create a sound economic base. As Jamaica's financial problems grew more severe with time, prime minister Michael Manley struck a deal in 1977 with a consortium of economic institutions through the International Monetary Fund, who would loan money to the nation in exchange for removal of trade restrictions and subsidized exports. Twenty-five years later, most Jamaicans would agree that the deal drove a stake through the island's agricultural and industrial economy; imports from America have ruined the island's dairy industry, interference from growers and merchants in the United States and Latin America have effectively ended the growing of onions, bananas, carrots, and potatoes as cash crops, the value of the Jamaican dollar has plummeted, and the island is now seven billion dollars in debt to the IMF, with interest driving that figure higher each day. Filmmaker Stephanie Black examines the sad state of Jamaica's economy in the face of "free trade" in the global economy in the documentary Life + Debt, which includes interviews with Michael Manley and IMF director Stanley Fischer; the Jamaica Kincaid novel A Small Place provides some of the text for the film's narration.

Documentary look at the effects of globalization on Jamaican industry and agriculture.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 23 April, 2010.