Life And Debt (2001)

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 Amazon.com

A DVD all should see

I first saw this on PBS and anxiously waited almost 2 years to be able to buy a copy. It is that significant. I use it in all my Environmental Science courses and other professors borrow it for social, cultural, political science, ethics, and even economic courses. September 29, 2008

Subverting Ourselves Again

Life and Debt examines how the policies of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other aid organizations have changed the Jamaican economy over the past quarter of a century.
Author Jamaica Kincaid narrates to a reggae soundtrack that includes songs by Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Mutubaruka and Peter Tosh.

Struggling with huge amounts of national debt in the 1970's, Jamacia is forced to turn to the IMF. The IMF gives them a loan to keep things running, but with terms which include opening the country to free trade. Not able to compete with the prices of subsidised crops and milk from North America, local farming operations collapse. Government officials are lured into establishing "tax free zones" in their ports believing they will create local jobs, only to find that companies like Hanes import workers from China and keep them behind a fence where their wages are not spent in the local economy. Their products are created from cotton made in China, by workers from China, all free from tax.

I loved this documentary, but I did read the critical review from "Island Boy" seriously (next page). Island Boy writes from Jamaica noting that this documentary leaves out historical information like Manley's policy of 90 percent tax drove which drove the educated middle class and businesses away. His review is something to take note of before watching this film.

What you'll learn from Life and Debt is that we often think we are helping a situation by supporting aid when reality we are only being persuaded to subvert justice. It seems that behind many plans which the government presents as good-hearted is a cleverly disguised plan to benefit the rich. You might take the message of this movie and ask yourself how else you are subverting yourself. Does open-space movement preserve the environment or keep local developers rich by making land artifically scarce? Feminism kept wages lower for US employers in the 1970's when inflation was raging and did little to improve the working life of women and children. And accepting debt with terms that ruin your life is no life at all. Watch Life and Debt and take the message further. March 12, 2008

A thought-provoking documentary on life beyond tourism in Jamaica

This documentary made me conscious of the price of help given by the IMF and World Bank to developing countries. December 29, 2007

Must viewing

Anyone who is interested in learning about how free trade and the IMF impact so-called third-world countries definitely need to view this documentary. The common people of Jamaica are the ones whose voices are primarily given attention, but there is also a significant amount of time given to former PM Michael Manley as well as other officials. Manley's explanation of the manner in which international commerce and banking affect small economies such as that of Jamaica is insightful.

The sad thing is that the issues explored in this documentary have only gotten worse since the film was made. It is important for citizens of the United States and European Union to understand these issues since the primary media outlets are silent on these weighty matters that have a profound impact on millions of people. Hopefully you will have the courage to view this documentary and think about what is being said. October 27, 2007

Foolishness!

This film tries to place the current day problems of Jamaica with the IMF, InterAmerican Development Bank etc when every aware Jamaican knows that it was Michael Manley himself who set the socialist agenda in the 1970s which caused the greatest migration of educated, middle class, Jamaican's to flee the country.

It was Manley's policies of 90 percent income tax and others which led to Jamaica falling at least a generation behind what its potential could have been.

The films depiction of Manley as a victim of the IMF and Globalization is false and doesnt accurately critize the mismanagement and leadership of Manley. October 15, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...