Social Genocide (2004)
After the fall of the military dictatorship in 1983, successive democratic governments launched a series of reforms purporting to turn Argentina into the world's most liberal and prosperous economy. Less than twenty years later, the Argentinians have lost literally everything: major national companies have been sold well below value to foreign corporations; the proceeds of privatizations have been diverted into the pockets of corrupt officials; revised labour laws have taken away all rights from employees; in a country that is traditionally an important exporter of foodstuffs, malnutrition is widespread; millions of people are unemployed and sinking into poverty; and their savings have disappeared in a final banking collapse. The film highlights numerous political, financial, social and judicial aspects that mark out Argentina's road to ruin.
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I love this movie so much
Good movie but grossly overrated
best movie i've ever seen.
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
"fechy from Switzerland" you are sick bastard who doesn't know a thing from the great Pino Solanas. This man has been producing documentaries with strong political content since the 60s and you dare to consider him a bad copy of Michael Moore? He was 12 years old when Pino had already released his masterpiece The Hour of the Furnaces.How come you demand a little bit of humor when we are talking about the lives of millions of people that were ruined? Over the past 32 years they resisted a genocide dictatorial regime and governments financed by narcs. This is the result of liberal economic programs implemented by corrupt politicians in a fake democracy.Pino was a congressman also, the only one who dared to report the abuses during the Menem era. He received 6 bullets in his legs for it.This is a saga followed by The Dignity of Nobodies, Argentina Latente and the unreleased La Tierra Sublevada. We may discuss his political ideas but never his work. Something a lot of nobodies were longing to let the world know. Someone to speak for us. The social awareness of Evita, the revolutionary ideas of Che Guevara, the democratic values of the great nations and a gifted artist. Ladies and gentlemen that's Pino Solanas. A unique person.Pino thanks for your dignity, your humility, your coherence, your honesty and your legacy.
Both if you are interested or not in politic, or if you have different political ideas with the Director, you may see this film. New generations of every Latin American country must know what happened and how happened the facts, and Solanas shows everything in a perfect way. Anybody can see this documentary film, even if don't have any previous knowledge about the issue, and can understand the real reasons of the most important political, social, institutional and moral crisis in the whole Argentinian history. Like in "The Hour of the Furnaces" Solanas make too much with few economical resources but a lot of talent. Thanks Solanas for your dignity and your work.
Phenomenal documentary portraying the turmoil unfolding in Argentina leading up to the 2001 economic crash. The movie begins by showing Argentina in crisis, and then goes back in time to some of the problems that predicated the crisis. The documentary focuses attention on the role of former president Menem, though it definitely does not skip over other important aspects of recent Argentine history. The view given to the audience by the movie accurately reflects the opinions and feelings of many Argentinians. As of Spring 2004 when I was in Buenos Aires and watched the movie in theaters, many older couples were yelling at the political figures speaking in the movie. Often the director places comments from trusted officials that later prove to be complete lies taken in back-sight. Great images can also be seen throughout the movie. Don't miss Menem with a belly dancer and the underlying angst and sarcasm felt by the people of Argentina. I would recommend this movie to people who want to learn more about the mood of the Argentine people. Great movie, though hard to watch.
Michael Moore has done an outstanding service to documentary film-making, but he's also opened the floodgates for less worthy imitations.While poignant and probably deserving (Argentineans must be the judge of that), Solana's very long docu sadly belongs to this category.Sadly, because there is a great story to tell - not of social genocide perhaps as the filmmaker would want it, but of deeply misguided elites in a country blessed by the gods.The film lacks three of Moore's chief characteristics: pacing, structure, and humor.Dramatic but repetitive newsreel (or newsreel-like) images of street riots alternate with listless steadicam views of marble halls and government corridors. Cinematography is elementary, perhaps willingly, but disappointingly from such an accomplished filmmaker. Additional testimonials seem handicapped by the one-sidedness of the questions and by the superficial economic and historical analysis behind them. Structurally, the chapters (which are probably meant as theses) are ineffectual - they further obscure the narrative arc and provide no additional clues. The official thievery portrayed is poignant in its effects on everyday Argentinean life across all classes but offers no explanation as to why this country repeatedly trusts or elects demagogues who are lousy soldiers (the Junta who dragged the country into the Falklands disaster, and into the public debt load) or lousy managers (Menem and De la Rua). Seriousness of the topic should not have excluded an occasional bit of humor - surely, all this official strutting, all these implausible interview comments would have provided ample opportunities.