Capitalism: A Love Story

Overview

Released in 2009, Capitalism: A Love Story is an American documentary written, directed and presented by Michael Moore. Its 120-minute examination is framed by the 2008 financial crisis and the recovery stimulus, and extends into a broader critique of the economic order in the United States and unfettered capitalism.

Moore draws together financial power, working life and the consequences of economic upheaval. The film takes up Wall Street’s casino mentality, Goldman Sachs’ influence in Washington, D.C., low wages and the wave of home foreclosures. It also considers for-profit prisons and corporate-owned life insurance, connecting these subjects to what it presents as the effects of runaway greed.

A religious thread asks whether capitalism is a sin and whether Jesus would have been a capitalist. Moore uses those questions to examine what he sees as a contradiction between evangelical conservatives’ Christian beliefs and support for free-market ideals. The result is a film that treats capitalism not only as an economic system but also as a source of political, social and moral conflict.

The documentary was produced by Dog Eat Dog Films, Paramount Vantage, The Weinstein Company and Overture Films. It is from the United States and is listed in English, Russian and Spanish. Readers interested in Moore’s work can explore Documentaries by Michael Moore, or browse Documentaries of the 2000s.

Key features

• Financial crisis and recovery: The 2008 crisis and recovery stimulus provide the film’s central context.
• Broad economic critique: Subjects include Wall Street, corporate influence in Washington, low wages, foreclosures, for-profit prisons and corporate-owned life insurance.
• Religious questions: Moore considers how Christian belief sits alongside support for free-market principles.
• Michael Moore’s perspective: He serves as director, writer, producer and on-screen presenter.

Who it's for

This film is suited to viewers interested in the Great Recession, anti-capitalist arguments and the social effects of economic policy. Its range of topics can also give teachers and students starting points for discussion about financial power, wages, housing, prisons and the relationship between religious conviction and economic ideology. It is a pointed argument rather than a neutral survey of capitalism.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Brings financial, political, workplace and religious questions into one documentary.
• Its focus on the 2008 crisis gives the critique a clear historical setting.
• Michael Moore’s multiple roles give the film a consistent authorial perspective.

Cons

• The film advances an explicit indictment of capitalism, so viewers seeking a detached overview may find its stance too direct.
• Its many subjects span institutions and personal economic consequences, rather than concentrating on one issue alone.

Alternatives

For other documentaries associated with Moore, consider Sicko, Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, The Big One, Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint, Roger & Me and Captain Mike Across America. These titles offer different subjects for viewers who want to continue exploring his documentary work.

Verdict

Capitalism: A Love Story is a substantial, argument-driven documentary about the economic and social fault lines exposed by the 2008 financial crisis. Its scope—from Wall Street and foreclosures to wages, prisons and faith—makes it most useful for viewers prepared to engage with Moore’s clear critique and the questions it raises.