How does the film explain the development of the “middle class” n the mid-20th century? What conditions saw the improved standard of living for many working class people? What contradictions existed at the same time?
2. The film notes the Reagan era as a dividing line between the rise of the “middle class” and its current decline. What policies did Reagan usher in and why? What were the results?
3. Moore provides stories about the impact of privatization on local communities. What were some of these?’
4. Corporations repeatedly claim that cutting jobs will allow them to save money and stay in business. Why does this not seem to work much in the examples detailed in the film?
5. Moore talks with workers and farmers about the impact of economic conditions and policies on their lives. What were some of their stories? What ways did they express solidarity with one another?
6. The film elaborates and mocks ideological justifications for capitalism. What were some of the claims for why capitalism is so good? What problems do you see with those claims?
7. The film focuses heavily on a moral condemnation of capitalism. Do you agree with that approach? Many Marxists prefer what they call a scientific critique of capitalism? Which do you prefer? Which is more effective in touching the experiences of working-class people?
Capitalism: A love Story. By Michael Moore.
As we know, Michael Moore is a liberal film producer, and sometimes subjective, who criticizes the problems that affect the United States of America. His documentary Capitalism: A love story is not the exception. This is an informative documentary that shows us the reality of this economic system, Capitalism. It shows in a very clear, realistic, and even sarcastic way the consequences that affected and still affecting in a really bad way the US of America, and the price that Americans have to pay for being a Capitalist country. What is important about Michael Moore is what he wants to tell the audience, not the way that he does it. From the second point of view, we are facing a poor documentary without film strategies and even weaker than his previous documentaries. However, sticking from the first point of view, the message is clear, the information is wonderful, and it is a documentary immensely recommended if we want to see the side of the Capitalism that will never be shown by the people who support it and wants it to stay as economic system in the United States of America Michael Moore always hits the target in the right moment.
Exactly as he did on his famous film Sicko (2007,) at the time when health care companies were abusing the system and making huge profits by letting people die. This is what happened with this film Capitalism: A Love Story because it was made right in the moment when the USA and the entire world was in one of its biggest economic crisis in 2009. In addition, this film was released in September 2009, just a couple of months before the elections of 2009 in the USA, the elections where Americans showed their power and the need of a changes because the republicans had driven this country in a tremendous economic recession. In Capitalism: A Love Story, Michael Moore discusses the status of the US economy, the greed of businessmen capable of ruining the poorest in order to have five airplanes instead of one. In addition, Michael Moore follows the experiences of several families who have been evicted for failing to meet their debts. Then, he tracks this money until he get to the companies which are causing the misery of these families. As a result, there, in the decisions of those companies, is where we discover that not everything is how it looks like, that the “American Dream” does not exist, it didn’t even exist, and it seems that it will not exist. That idea so noble, from conservative media, that with work, determination, hope, kindness, and struggle every single objective could be achieved is not entirely true when we are not contributing to companies’ profits. Sometimes subjective, but sometimes not. This is how Michal Moore exposes his arguments trough all his films.
Many people will feel it this way, or many people will just hate him, depending on the audience ideologies. Moore always criticizes the republican presidents, especially his “favorite” one, George Bush. He promotes discreetly Barack Obama, so many people will hate it because they might think it is just another political campaign. However, it is always good to look at things from different perspectives in order to create our own ideology. This film will definitely help us to see things in a different perspective, and to understand how Capitalism is affecting this country. It might not change our thoughts, but it explains the side of this economic system that politician will not tell us because they are the ones who end up winning. If we watch this movie objectively, we will find a lot of important information and data that Michael Moore exposes and analyzes it on his funny, sarcastic, and even subjective way what capitalism is. “This is capitalism. A system of taking and giving… Mostly taking.” This is one of Moore’s biggest points in this film when he explains the price of what is the price that America has to pay for being a capitalist country. Years ago, this love seemed totally innocent. High unemployment rates, high poverty levels, and more money for rich people.
This is the price, and capitalism is a fake love for us, the 99% who work much harder than the 1%, which are the ones who dominate and have the power over the United States of America. For those who belong to this 1%, capitalism is a real love story because they take the most they can, and they give the less possible, eight dollars an hour is what they give in most of the cases. Even though many people define Michael Moore as “problematic,” he just expresses his thoughts because, as he said, he just want to live in a better America. This is the most informative and realistic documentary that we can find about this topic. Michael Moore always follows the same line of documentaries, which is showing what is behind those issues that the United States faces in a very realistic way. Because we are all concerned for this country, this movie, no matter our perspective, will definitely makes us think a little bit and realize that Capitalism is not as lovely as it is usually offered by most of the politicians. Moore could make us even realize that Capitalism is not the best way to go for everybody, that Capitalism is not a love story at all.
