Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Life And Debt’?

Life And Debt (2001)

tomatometer

100

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

audience

89

liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 1,816

My Rating

Movie Info

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

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Documentary, Special Interest

Jamaica Kincaid

Jun 24, 2003

Tuff Gong Pictures

All Critics (43) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (4) | DVD (4)

Powerfully illustrates what globalization has been doing to underdeveloped countries around the world.

August 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This case study of globalization's effects on Jamaica is a timely, never dull piece of agitprop that comes off as a cross between Godard's social protest docs and The Harder They Come.

August 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Fairly harsh, sobering stuff.

July 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's mostly persuasive in the position it argues.

March 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The damning commentary and revelations about the perils of globalization, not just for Jamaica but developing countries the world over, do come across loud and clear.

February 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An intelligent movie about economics.

January 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It is an instructive story of exploitation.

August 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | Comment
Observer [UK]

Stephanie Black puts into context the differences between the Jamaica seen by tourists and the country inhabited by its oppressed people.

October 5, 2006 Comment
ColeSmithey.com

Talking heads are intercut to synthesise theory and practice, but as an economic diatribe this is a bit patronising and not wholly persuasive.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

As documentaries about economics go, this one is way, way up at the top.

February 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | Comment
Zap2it.com

Its potent message deserves to be heard.

August 6, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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.

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

Here is a documentary that should be mandatory viewing for anyone interested in globalisation that, war or no war, remains one of the most contentious issues of our times.

March 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | Comment
Guardian [UK]

Puts a human face - many human faces - on the debt crisis and the effects of open trade on a Third World country.

March 11, 2003 Full Review Source: Offoffoff | Comment
Offoffoff

A powerful, intelligently-assembled documentary from American director Stephanie Black, which explores the devastating impact of globalisation upon the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

March 4, 2003 Full Review Source: FilmFour.com | Comment
FilmFour.com

As an expose of such international carpetbagging, Life + Debt is brilliant stuff.

February 26, 2003 Full Review Source: BBC | Comment

However attractive the axe to grind, the haphazard lacework of narration, filmed television screen, disconnected scenes and endless headshots do not make for cinema, documentary or otherwise.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment (1)
Film Threat

A must-see for everyone who wants to understand the human cost of globalization.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | Comment
San Diego Metropolitan

It is provocative and highly resonant, and informative without being dry or terminally academic.

October 10, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

I found myself daydreaming, looking at my watch, dozing off.

April 14, 2002 Comment
NutzWorld

An eye-opener and a primer on why the IMF and the World Bank are not to be trusted by emerging third-world countries.

March 10, 2002 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | Comment
Austin Chronicle
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Life And Debt

It's pretty one-sided, but if you want to see the how the IMF and World Bank screws third world countries, this is it.

August 14, 2010

documentary about the effects of the global economy/banking system on jamaica, like the way the narration is in first person speaking directly to an audience in the first world

April 1, 2007
Digitalmyths
Mina Blyly-Strauss

Life And Debt Quotes

No quotes approved yet for Life And Debt. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Movies Like Life And Debt

Latest News for Life And Debt

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,571 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,465 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,165 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,662 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile