Life and Debt

Every time I show this to my students (college anthropology) they are struck by how detrimental neoliberal economic philosophy is for the world's poor. Through no fault of their own, many nations in the Global South are pushed further into debt and poverty due to World Bank and IMF economic policies that wrongfully assume that neoliberalism (trade over aid) will lift them out of poverty and make them self sufficient.Just one example from the film: The US (via the World Bank and IMF Structural Adjustment programs) forced Jamaica to reduce tariffs on their imports in order to prioritize paying back development loans (that didn't develop the country). This made it cheaper for the US to dump a bunch of powdered milk into their economy which destroyed their FRESH dairy industry. The film shows dairy farmers having to dump their milk down the drain. Because the IMF forced them to devalue their currency it was cheaper to buy imports than local produce.The most criminal is that the US has subsidized their produce and dairy industries, but Jamaica and others under SAPs are told they have to eliminate subsidies to create "revenue," but really it just makes it so the US can off load their cheap products onto the Global South destroying economies in its wake.

Had to watch this documentary for a course I'm taking and I'm so glad I did. It encapsulates the devastating effects of globalization on Jamaica and ties it into what it means for developing countries as a whole. Not only does it cover political and economic concepts to help the viewer understand the policies at play, but it also delves into stories that will pull at your heartstrings to show the impact these policies have on the lives of people. 10/10.

I was speechless after watching this movie. First of all I would like to thank our Professor Loraine for recommending this movie, it gave me (hopefully other students in the Principal of Export and International Business) the sens of real life out there, how the deals are signed, the conditions and terms of the IMF, Word Bank, with the Emerging Countries.What really blew my mind is how the Jamaican's Prime Minister and his government had sign these crazy deals, their hands were tight, they were screwed. The movie showed how difficult was for the Jamaican government to make any better deal, then the hypocrisy of the IMF official, who every time was speaking on the camera, you could see the carelessness and fake smile on his face, then you have the people of Jamaica who didn't know what was in the deal, when the deal was sign? So, pretty much they had no idea of those senseless deals, but they were the ones who paid the price (specially those Farmers and factory workers). To summarize my review, the Life and Debt movie made me think about what goes on in Africa (heavily in debt) and other poor countries, who don't have muscles to wrestling with the IMF, World bank, people think that they are there to help, but in reality they are there to keep them strangled, YES THE RULES & TERMS OF IMF, WORLD BANK, WERE MADE BY THE USA, EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (SOME), THEY MADE FOR THEM. NOT FOR ANYONE ELSE.

Probably the best documentary on the effects of globalization that has ever been produced. The documentary shows how Jamaica lost its economic sovereignty to international capital and American financial institutions. The documentary weaves perfectly through interviews with policy makers from the IMF, World Bank, and Jamaica onto stories from regular Jamaican citizens who illustrate the human suffering caused by those policies. I also like the side story that compares what middle brow tourists see in the sanitized-Jamaica to the real Jamaica. Stunning and moving film. Incredible.

This is a gorgeous and hauntingly beautiful film, but its message will haunt you as well. Set against a reggae soundtrack, it explores how international lending institutions (especially the International Monetary Fund and World Bank) have in effect prevented Jamaica from becoming a sovereign country. The story of how these institutions impose Structural Adjustment policies that prevent countries from spending public resources on public needs is one that could be told in many places around the world. Jamaica long ago repaid the principal of the loans it contracted in the 1970s and 80s, but now owes the IMF more than $9 billion in interest. While the country's coffers are raided for interest repayments, health clinics are closed and schools go without equipment or even electricity -- the country hasn't even built a new hospital since the early 70s. A corollary of IMF dictates that countries such as Jamaica devote as many of their hard currency revenues to repaying foreign debt is that they must open their economies to foreign agricultural and manufactured goods that destroy local industries. The sight of dairy farmers selling their herds for hamburger because they can't compete with subsidized dried milk from the US is one of many painful and poignant scenes from the film. I use this film with great effect in my college classes, but it is powerful viewing in or out of the classroom.

I was encouraged to take Globalization and its Discontent because I told the advisor when I visit another country, I want to see, hear, and taste the country I am visiting. I do not want to see American companies, because I can see them in the U.S. When I went to Indonesia we did go to KFC, one of my companions wanted something familiar, I was happy there was seaweed wrapped rice. We both got what we wanted. However, I am disappointed with how the IMF had not help a disadvantaged country when IMF states that is their purpose. Support local economies and you will have a better chance surviving.

A variety of voices from a former Prime Minister to everyday citizens on the experience of living on a "developing" country where the IMF and World Bank control the economy. Great soundtrack of course. The narration, especially with some of the writing of Jamaica Kincaid, is an excellent addition.

I watched this remarkable documentary when it came on television many years ago and was struck by the candidness and frankness with which our instruments of debt and death creation (the US-led international banking system) wreaks havoc on those people who least benefit from our global economy.The themes have much relevance today as when the documentary was filmed decades ago. Very educative, as we witness on film the otherwise unseen impact of globalisation directly on the people's lives in Jamaica and wonder whether things will ever change for the better.

I fonund this DVD informative and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand what shapes the economic situation in Jamaica. It helps to change the negative perceptions of Jamaican people by highlighting the factors that influence the way of life in Jamaica and the choices people are faced with. So much good agricultural practice, including good organic produce seems to be going to waste due to political factors external to the country (obviously there are also internal factors that impact on this too). This not only impacts on the economics of the country and determines levels of income (impacting on levels of poverty) for individuals but the health and well being of the people

Having seen this documentary it reminded me of that time in Jamaica when times were really hard. It really gives an insight in alot of what was happening behind the scenes that we the public was not aware of. However, I would have liked to see the opposition party giving their views of the problems raised at the time. I wonder why the Jamaican government did not stand to represent the people more. The IMF may have contributed to the poverty and the economical downfall of the country but the lack of care for the people to even reduce foreign trades, says to me that the goverment/political powers are to be blamed even more. Purchase the DVD and give your opinion.

I saw this film many years ago, in my more impressionable years, and recently I decided to buy it and check it out... with doubts about whether I'd still find it persuasive. Somewhat to my surprise, many years (and many years of education and research) later, I found I still think quite highly of it. Recommended. I can't think of another documentary that so effectively captures the issues of neoliberalism. I like, also, that it gives a little voice to the pro- side (IMF), even though that's clearly not where its sympathies lie.

My sister recommended this documentary to me. It was fantastic! This is an eye opener, the kind of documentary that you have to watch more than once to fully grasp what this island paradise has gone through. The documentary tells all.