Marx Reloaded Trailer

Medea Film - Irene Höfer and Films Noirs present
A film by Jason Barker

Script and direction: Jason Barker
Co-direction: Alexandra Weltz
Cultural documentary, 52 min., ZDF/ ARTE, 2010
Production: Medea Film
Music: MexxTone and Ljubavnici

"Marx Reloaded" is a cultural documentary that uses some of the central ideas of 19th century German socialist and philosopher Karl Marx to try to make sense of the global financial crisis of 2008-09. This crisis prompted the US government to spend more than 1 trillion dollars in order to rescue its banking system from financial meltdown. But can the largest financial losses in history really be put down to the natural risks and uncertainties of the free market? Or is there another explanation as to why the crisis happened and what its implications are for the future of our society, our economy - for our whole way of life?

In the early months of 2008 a huge event began to rock the global financial system to its foundations. Billions of dollars were wiped off share prices and commercial banks throughout the world began to collapse like a pack of cards. As the global economy entered the deepest recession for 70 years the message from the mainstream media was simple: this was an anomaly, an isolated financial "blip" as unpredictable as a tsunami or lightening strike. Although devastating for the millions of ordinary people around the world whose homes were lost and whose jobs and savings disappeared into thin air, the crisis itself was simply one of those extraordinary things: a cataclysm that escapes all rational thinking.

But what were the real origins of this crisis? And what are its ongoing implications for the future prosperity of us all?

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Goatsalways]

I'm sure one day people will see the irreconcilable differences between Stalinism and Marxism, maybe even the subtler ones between Leninism, Trotskyism and Luxemburgism. Here's to hoping.

[jemmaleeds1]

Who is "we"? Some people are born as rich individuals and others as poor individuals. And since when were "Leftist Collectivists" the only ones motivated by "poison" and hate? If you don't think the wealthy are motivated by contempt for the poor then maybe you haven't met many wealthy people. Wealth feeds off the poor, the number of billionaires has multiplied during the global economic recession. You may not know this or disagree. But your ignorance is not an excuse for your nonsense opinions

[kanton1975]

Marx economical and political theory, though extremely interesting to all, has been tried so many times through the past century and has FAILED, AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN.

Check that! It hasn't JUST failed, econimically and socially that is. It rather led to the worst humanitarian nightmare possible. Check that; it lead to a complete ATROCITY.

[buddhastaxi666]

There are ongoing corporatist policies in governments,bureaucracy and buisness. We have free speech and nothing happeans beyond our vocalising our feedback to bosses. Accountability to mid level managers needs an upgrade. We are all becoming mentored and restricted. The policies and clever ideas are out there already, they are being blocked by vested interest and egotism. We all know you do not lend a housing loan to an unemployed, marginalised person you build them public housing instead.

[Ozrictentacle]

An individual who wears diapers and must be fed by his or her parents.

[clicheguevara420]

>implying the nazis took power through revolutionary means

[clicheguevara420]

>implying Stalinism has anything to do with what real socialists are in favour of

>implying one of the Marxist scholars in this doc isn't a former yugoslav dissident

I think the fact that Russia, China etc. are just as corrupt and oppressive after being integrated into global neoliberal capitalism says more about that system than it's opponents ever could. Yes I'm familiar with Solzhenitsyn and the gulag archipelago, you should go look up Kronstadt though.

[themej313]

Either way I don't give a s*** I'm very glad I don't live in Russia and so glad I'm not from there and I don't care what happens to them or their revolution or society I just wrote about this because "The Revolution" as some means to create a more equal society is a delusional dream.

[themej313]

If you aren't aware about Oligarchs ruling Russian economy and society, then don't post negative votes because you are uninformed. Mafia in Russia? Look it up it's on the internet. Totalitarianism? Read about Stalin and his ascent to power. Fascism...still exists with Putin policies but under a different name. Genocide? In Russia, I think the Communists killed more of it's citizens than Hitler did. Gulags--don't be stupid. All of these are obvious characteristics of CCCP and Russia NOW.

[themej313]

Do you even know about Alexander Solzhenitsyn?

[themej313]

Oh wow, my post "has received too many negative votes". Too bad I live around Russians (in a different country) and they tell me about how you must have money to get anywhere in Russian society, how you have to bribe everyone for anything, and how all the Europeans here are threatened by Russians taking over their businesses because they say they are all "mafia". Hmmm...I did not make up this post, I am repeating what I have heard from people who know Russia

[themej313]

National socialist revolution in Germany, The French Revolution which turned into war on Europe and colonialistic Imperialism for the French who took the oppression they had encountered out on the natives in the lands they "colonized" (stole resources from), the Cambodian Revolution (modeled after the French by the French-taught Pol Pot), The Cultural Revolution, and on and on... "the Revolution" is not confined to the CCCP.