Project Detail

The Divide

Synopsis

This film sets out to solve one of the greatest mysteries of our age: why despite rising material wealth, many Western countries are experiencing profound social breakdown.
This real life detective story unravels the big story of the unprecedented shifts in income and wealth that have occurred over the last 35 years – the how, why and who. At the heart of the story is the shift to the freedom of the market, freeing businesses to create wealth for all, and make everyone better off.
As markets were freed and the financial sector deregulated, the wealth flowed to the top. Between 1979 – 2007 the top 1% of US households gained 275%, compared to 18% for the bottom fifth. A series of human narratives piece together the realities of life for those at varying ends of the income spectrum in the developed world today - a harsher society where stress, crime and fear are rising, and we increasingly see those around us as "other". Could economic differences be driving these social differences?
Inspired by he award-winning book 'The Spirit Level' by Professors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, the film features Michael Marmot, Noam Chomsky, Alan Budd, Ha-Joon Chang and Alexis Goldstein.

Details

Year
2015
Type of film
Features
Running time
78 minutes
Format
Digital
Director
Katharine Round
Producer
Christopher Hird, Katharine Round
Editor
John Mister
Director of Photography
Woody James
Sound
Glen Piegari, Francisco LaTorre
Composer
Andrew Hewitt
Principal cast
Alan Budd, Ha-Joon Chang, Noam Chomsky, Alexis Goldstein, Robert Frank, Paul Piff, Cathy O'Neil, Andrew Berg

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

The Spirit Level Film Company, Dartmouth Films in association with Literally Films

Dartmouth Films

Christopher Hird
Room F62, South Building
Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA

Sales Company

Dartmouth Films

Christopher Hird
Room F62, South Building
Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA

Page updates

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