Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers

2003
Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers
6.9| 0h54m| en| More Info
Released: 21 November 2003 Released
Producted By: Atmo Media Network
Country: Sweden
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.atmo.se/?pageID=4&articleID=382
Synopsis

Swedish documentary film on consumerism and globalization, created by director Erik Gandini and editor Johan Söderberg. It looks at the arguments for capitalism and technology, such as greater efficiency, more time and less work, and argues that these are not being fulfilled, and they never will be. The film leans towards anarcho-primitivist ideology and argues for "a simple and fulfilling life".

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Reviews

dagr8vik There is virtually no 'substance' to this so-called documentary. I say so-called, because it doesn't actually document anything. What a wast of time: every scene is repeated at least 3 times. 15 minutes of the movie isn't in English and doesn't have subtitles. Only about 10 minutes of the film actually addresses its anti-capitalist theme. And none of that 10 minutes offers any facts or evidence, just the rantings of a single fringe radical author; 'we should tear up the highways' and 'starbucks is wiping out freedom.' It sorta felt like a cross between two very good documentaries (Koyaanisqatsi and The Corporation) that was somehow managed to be perfectly terrible.
heckknow Yes, it tries to deliver its message of anti-capitalism. But it does it by repeating scenes over and over again (it makes you wonder if they didn't film enough or had to pad the movie to extend it's run time because of a lack of money/footage or both). It feels more like the film is trying to force its message onto you until you say uncle.Most of the scenes are un-narrated (and un-translated). This leaves the viewer lost and confused. Huh? What do these people in this segment have to do with anti-capitalism? The transitions between scenes could use some help here. The editing is horrible. The film goes from one scene to the next without any sort of explanation to the viewer. Okay, there are people rioting. Um, what is it that they're rioting over? Why are they rioting? In the end, the film's message of anti-capitalism is cluttered/muddled because of bad film editing/direction. The reason is never backed up by any sort of substance or fact. Thus, it makes this movie appear more like a propaganda film than a documentary about anti-capitalism.It's awful. Don't waste your time on this film. Go watch the corporation documentary; it's much more informative and well made. I only give it a 3 because it is somewhat thought provoking (if you can get over the constant repeated scenes and repeated dialogues).
jfahlman Yet another in a new tradition of categorizing propaganda films as "documentaries" even though they blatantly turn a blind eye to any document or details that disprove their intended message. This film avoids any and all intelligent comments on the subject of consumerism and relies solely on leveraging emotional hot buttons. It is neither factual nor accurate, but what is far worse is that it pretends to be.With a running time of just under an hour, this could easily have been a fifteen minute film if all the repetition were removed. Repetition is one of the foundational tools of brainwashing, which makes this film all the more damaging. Hand selected and trimmed pieces of second hand footage are looped over and over to try and force the viewer into a trance so that direct access to the mind without having to bother working through the intellect can be achieved.Film makers such as this need to realize that if their point cannot be made in a straightforward and concise manner, without stealth and duplicity, then perhaps their point of view is not valid in the first place. It is hard to accept a message of "let's destroy society and return to the days of the cave man" when it is recorded and delivered on through one of the most technologically advanced mediums ever known on earth. It is important to note that I am not putting words into anybody's mouth here, the film makers repeatedly advocate the destruction of all technology so that mankind may return to the simplicity and hedonism of the cave man eras. Somehow a the destruction of property is not a form of violence and at the same time a return to savagery is also a non-violent plan of action.Avoid this film like the plague.
intnsred A very unusual documentary about consumerism. I preferstatistics-filled, dry, just-throw-the-facts-at-me types ofdocumentaries. I find most of Michael Moore's humor distracting to hismain points, for example. This film uses a variety of techniques toappeal to emotions. For instance, it uses a sometimes annoying, sometimes surprisinglyeffective tactic of repeating sound bites. The footage ranges fromprotests to interviews. Footage includes a Cuban teen's reactions tovisiting McDonalds, to European homeless people, to Microsoft's SteveBallmer dancing around screaming to motivate Windows programmers at aconference. It's truly unusual, but despite my preference for "drier"more fact-oriented documentaries, I found this unusual emotion-appealfilm quite enjoyable and effective. That surprised me; perhaps it willyou too?