Death & Taxes

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Death & Taxes

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1h 25m

Documentary

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4 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

DEATH & TAXES is a feature documentary about wealth, inequality, and the American Dream, viewed through the lens of the estate tax. It is also the very personal story of a father and son at odds over what kind of inheritance we want to leave our kids and our country. Filmmaker Justin Schein's father, Harvey Schein, liked to say he lived the so-called "American Dream": rising from poverty in Depression-era Brooklyn to great financial success as one of America's top CEOs of the 1970s. But Harvey Schein also spent the last 20 years of his life fixated on trying to keep his hard-earned wealth from the taxman--an obsession that almost broke the Schein family apart. More broadly, inherited wealth and the tax system that shields it have badly distorted American democracy, perpetuating racial and economic inequity in the country. Filmed over more than 20 years, and weaving intimate family footage with interviews with prominent experts from all sides of the debate, DEATH AND TAXES tells this crucial story through the tale of one American family.

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Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

That was the first time I wrote in my notes, “Why am I watching this movie?” and I would write it one more time.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 18, 2025

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

An eye-opening, fair and balanced documentary.

Jul 14, 2025

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Kent Hill

Film Threat

It’s about the cost of building walls around wealth, even when it means keeping out your own family.

Rated: 8.5/10

Jun 18, 2025

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Death & Taxes gives a competent overview of estate taxes, while admirably showing a balance of supporters and opponents of these taxes. This documentary, directed by Justin Schein, includes his family history as a very personal perspective.

Nov 22, 2024

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 25 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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Justin Schein

Director

Robert Edwards

Director

Robert Edwards

Co-Director

Justin Schein

Producer

Robert Edwards

Producer

Yael Melamede

Producer

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Death & Taxes: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

DEATH & TAXES is a feature documentary about wealth, inequality, and the American Dream, viewed through the lens of the estate tax. It is also the very personal story of a father and son at odds over what kind of inheritance we want to leave our kids and our country. Filmmaker Justin Schein's father, Harvey Schein, liked to say he lived the so-called "American Dream": rising from poverty in Depression-era Brooklyn to great financial success as one of America's top CEOs of the 1970s. But Harvey Schein also spent the last 20 years of his life fixated on trying to keep his hard-earned wealth from the taxman--an obsession that almost broke the Schein family apart. More broadly, inherited wealth and the tax system that shields it have badly distorted American democracy, perpetuating racial and economic inequity in the country. Filmed over more than 20 years, and weaving intimate family footage with interviews with prominent experts from all sides of the debate, DEATH AND TAXES tells this crucial story through the tale of one American family.

Director: Justin Schein, Robert Edwards
Producer: Justin Schein, Robert Edwards, Yael Melamede
Distributor: 8 Above Distribution
Production Co: Shadowbox Films, Salty Features
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 25m