Capitalism: A Love Story (Film)

Capitalism: A Love Story is an American documentary film released in 2009. Written, directed by and featuring Michael Moore, the film examines the 2008 global financial crisis and its social impacts in the United States. It investigates the consequences of corporate interests disregarding the public good in pursuit of profit and focuses on the problems that arise when capitalism is left largely unregulated.

The documentary provides an in-depth analysis of the effects of the 2008 financial crisis and its historical background. Michael Moore traces the origins of the crisis back to the Reagan era, addressing issues such as Wall Street’s “gambling mentality,” low wages and home foreclosures.

The film argues that the American Dream has turned into a nightmare, featuring interviews with families who lost their homes, workers who were laid off and employees living on the brink of hunger. It also draws attention to controversial practices such as “dead peasant” insurance policies through which large corporations profit from their employees and the influence of financial giants like Goldman Sachs on politics.

^{Scene from Capitalism: A Love Story (}IMDB⁾

Capitalism: A Love Story argues that capitalism leads to social and economic inequality. The film explores how corporate greed operates at the expense of workers and the middle class while reviewing the historical development of capitalism. Moore proposes alternatives such as economic democracy and claims that the current system is unsustainable. The film also includes a religious dimension, questioning the contradictions between Christianity and capitalism, featuring interviews with some religious leaders who describe capitalism as “immoral.”

• Michael Moore: Director and narrator of the documentary; also an active participant who conducts street interviews and visits corporate buildings.
• William Black: Expert on financial regulation; contributes his views on the causes of the crisis.
• Elijah Cummings: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; criticizes corruption within the financial system.
• Marcy Kaptur: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio; emerges as a voice defending public interests.

The film was financed by Overture Films and Paramount Vantage and produced by Dog Eat Dog Films. The documentary premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was widely released on 2 October 2009. Moore issued a public call for information from individuals working on Wall Street and in the financial sector and incorporated this material into the film. The 127-minute production combines historical archival footage, interviews and Moore’s distinctive satirical style.

Capitalism: A Love Story holds a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb. On Rotten Tomatoes it received a 74% approval rating, garnering generally positive reviews from critics. The documentary was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival but did not win the award. At the box office, it ranked eighth in its opening week with $4.4 million in revenue and ultimately earned $14.3 million worldwide, making it the 16th highest-grossing documentary as of 2014.