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Power Trip

Play trailer Poster for Power Trip 2003 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
This documentary offers evidence that the transition from communism to free-market capitalism has proven rocky for many Eastern European countries. A huge American energy corporation assumes control of the now privatized electric company in the capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The company tries to help the Georgian people grow accustomed to paying for their electricity. But the Georgians, like many who were formerly under Soviet rule, are used to a different way of life.
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Power Trip

Critics Reviews

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Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 05/20/2004
3/5
Surprisingly funny, enlightening and informative. And watchable. Go to Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe 05/14/2004
3/4
Highlights the disparity between the people and their exorbitant bills, but it's also a brief history of modern Georgia, a country whose citizens are frequently failed by their government. Go to Full Review Matt Weitz Dallas Morning News 02/26/2004
B+
An arresting and fascinating story that's ultimately not only about politics and business, but also about the human condition itself. Go to Full Review Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com 05/20/2004
B
The entire film has a feeling of bemusement to it, as if filmmaker Devlin can scarcely believe it's happening. It plays like a surreal comedy of errors. Go to Full Review Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews 05/17/2004
B+
Devlin introduces some interesting, often mind-blowing (at least to us capitalists) statistics of life and electricity in Tbilisi Go to Full Review Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune 05/14/2004
3/4
A lively fly-on-the-wall view of the clash between old-line Communist inefficiency and well-intended capitalist progress -- and the people caught in the middle. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/16/2016 This is a wild movie. The clash between the Georgians that want power, and the Americans that want to get paid for providing power leads to an epic struggle. The movie presents both sides pretty fairly, so it is easy to empathize with both sides. Besides the corrupt businesses that bribe their way out of bills, there really aren't any bad guys. Just a struggle to get what you need to survive in a city without enough resources. There are some great characters to follow in the struggle that keep you hopeful. Highly recommended, but it might depress you a bit. See more 08/19/2009 This documentary sheds some light on the troubles plaguing the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. While it is informative and intellectually engaging, it falls down when it tries to elicit sympathy for a company from the U.S. that made the mistake of purchasing the power distribution business for Tblisi. Throughout the film, we here grand proclamations of how Corporate America wants to do good for the Georgian people. Throughout the film, it is difficult to take these proclamations seriously. The clincher is in one of the movie's epilogue captions, which tells us that the corporation eventually sold its interests out to a Russian company and that Russia now controls 75% of the power supply in Georgia. Once again, self-righteous and moralizing Americans are complicit in bringing about the worst possible outcome. No suprise there. See more 01/15/2009 Energy supply in a Russian way. Interesting. Trailer: www.powertripthemovie.com See more 11/24/2008 We take electricity for granted in this country. This PBS documentary "sheds some light" on what it's like to live in the dark with someone else's thumb on the switch. More info: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/powertrip/film.html See more 11/24/2008 As far as documentaries go, this one is first rate. I say so, because it really does represent a full spectrum of viewpoints, information, and history without making it a one-sided issue. I was especially surprised at how little I knew about Georgian political history, as well as the current issues faced by this tiny former Soviet nation. Very well done, certainly worth the education:) See more 08/12/2008 Amazing and Amsuing. Dark, yet Hopeful. The depressingly corrupt government vies with a socially responsible electric company that invests a lot just to get Georgians to pay their electric bill before being forced to leave by their investors. And this is the country that Russia just invaded. See more Read all reviews
Power Trip

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Devlin

Director

Paul Devlin

Producer

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Power Trip

Power Trip (2003) Power Trip (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This documentary offers evidence that the transition from communism to free-market capitalism has proven rocky for many Eastern European countries. A huge American energy corporation assumes control of the now privatized electric company in the capital of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The company tries to help the Georgian people grow accustomed to paying for their electricity. But the Georgians, like many who were formerly under Soviet rule, are used to a different way of life.
Director
Paul Devlin
Producer
Paul Devlin
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$38.6K
Runtime
1h 25m
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