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The End of Poverty?

Play trailer Poster for The End of Poverty? 2009 1h 46m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Intellectuals, economists and others discuss global economic woes and the plight of those who must live in poverty.

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The End of Poverty?

Critics Reviews

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Kerry Lengel Arizona Republic 02/10/2010
3.5/5
Even if you're convinced by the many well-spoken interviewees, the film's conclusion is almost as depressing as the historical indictment that precedes it. Go to Full Review
Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle 12/18/2009
2/5
A didactic documentary that covers ground already trampled to death by countless other films, books, magazine articles, and grad-student theses. Go to Full Review
Peter Rainer Christian Science Monitor 12/11/2009
C+
Because Diaz constructs his movie like a classroom tutorial, we expect something more from him than an appeal to end privatization. Go to Full Review
Mattie Lucas From the Front Row 08/05/2019
2.5/4
In the end it leaves the audience with a desire to make a difference and no outlet to do so. Go to Full Review
Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 05/01/2010
83/100
A confrontational documentary by neo-Marxist director Phillippe Diaz that explores the inconvenient truth that the gears of capitalism are greased by the exploitation of the weak. Go to Full Review
Rachel Gordon Filmcritic.com 01/29/2010
2/5
so stuck in the self-importance of covering the economically disadvantaged that it thoroughly loses the ability to show how the circumstances evolved to such a state. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 May 28 Successful documentary footage in 1 hour and 46 minutes!!!!!!!!! Narrator is Martin Sheen; he made me the man I am today. See more 04/18/2019 Its bad cause theyre is no ironman in it lol 0000.1/10 See more 01/18/2015 Very powerful. A reality we all need to face and rectify. The only reason I knocked off half a star is because it was a bit longer than necessary. See more 07/30/2014 The overwhelming magnitude of poverty seems unsolvable. Can we really end poverty within our current economic system? In this award-winning documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, we see the historical foundation that, for over five centuries, laid the groundwork for today's financial crisis. It began with military conquest, slavery and colonization (often in the spirit of missionary zeal) that resulted in the seizure of land and minerals and in forced labor. Today, the problem persists because of the structuring of debt, trade and tax policies. The "End of Poverty" (2009) reveals a co-dependency in which the southern hemisphere provides cheap resources for the northern hemisphere without a way out of financial indebtedness and towards economic independence. The dependency is necessary to prop up the industrialized nation's standard of living. Read my detailed review at: www.unhealedwound.com (July 27, 2014)! See more 09/04/2013 Excellent piece of documentary detailing how the West through their actions and policies have impoverished the world. Getting it for my classes. See more 01/17/2013 Powerful documentary that underlines the origins of capitalism and shatters the assumption we have (especially in France) that the purpose of our societies is to help people step out of poverty, whereas their nature is and has always been founded on the exploitation of man by man and to set in stone the discrepancies between rich and poor. I particularly appreciated the participation of John Perkins, the author of the celebrated "Confessions of An Economic Hitman". See more Read all reviews
The End of Poverty?

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Movie Info

Synopsis Intellectuals, economists and others discuss global economic woes and the plight of those who must live in poverty.
Director
Philippe Diaz
Producer
Beth Portello, Robert Schalkenbach
Screenwriter
Philippe Diaz
Distributor
Cinema Libre Studio
Production Co
Cinema Libre Studio
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 13, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$57.3K
Runtime
1h 46m
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