Life and Debt is a feature-length documentary which addresses the impact of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and current globalization policies on a developing country such as Jamaica. More on Life and Debt...
DVD
The DVD is a true collector's edition, including additional footage from the last on-camera interview with Michael Manley, an international photo montage of the post-Seattle Anti-Globalization movement and insightful director's commentary.
BUY ONLINE (for home video use only)
Order the DVD or STREAMING LICENSE for Educational Use
Special Features:
- Additional Footage from Michael Manley's Interview
- Director's Commentary
- Music Video "Mr. Heartless" by Anthony B.
- Photo Gallery on the International Anti-Globalization Movement
- Soundtrack Excerpts
- Original Theatrical Trailer
SOUNDTRACK
The LIFE and DEBT soundtrack, released by Tuff Gong, is available in the SOUNDTRACK section of your local record store. Profits from soundtrack sales will be donated to URGE, a non-profit organization founded by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. URGE is devoted to bringing relief and hope to suffering and underprivileged people around the world.
The title song from the film's soundtrack, "Life and Debt" is also included on Mutabaruka's first studio album since 1994, Life Squared, released on Heartbeat Records.
Review of the Life and Debt soundtrack at JamaicaObersver.com.
The "Unpayable Debt" working group at Columbia University's Center for the Study of Social Difference is pleased to announce the launch of Caribbean Syllabus: Life and Debt in the Caribbean, the first digital resource to study and discuss the region’s five-hundred year history with debt crisis stemming from colonial governance by European nations and the United States.
Distribution
US DISTRIBUTION:
For all distribution related questions about the film, please contact Tuff Gong PIctures
FRANCE, BELGIUM, and SWITZERLAND DVD DISTRIBUTION:
We are proud to announce the DVD of "Life and Debt" is distributed by:
BLAQ OUT
52 rue Charlot
75003 PARIS
tel: + 33 1 42 77 88 20
fax: + 33 1 42 77 88 19
www.blaqout.com
FRANCE THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION:
For all distribution related questions in France, please contact EuroZoom.
JAPAN DISTRIBUTION:
We are very pleased to announce Uplink Films will distribute LIFE AND DEBT in Japan, opening theatrically on July 16, 2005
CANADA DISTRIBUTION:
We are pleased to announce that MongrelMedia will distribute LIFE AND DEBT in Canada. For all Canadian distribution inquiries, please contact: info@mongrelmedia.com or visit their web site.
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTION:
Gil Scrine Films
44 Northcote ST
44 East Brisbane, QLD. 4169
Tel: (61.7) 33910124 Fax: 33910154
Email: gil@gilscrinefilms.com.au
JAMAICA DISTRIBUTION
DVD available at Tuff Gong
220 Marcus Garvey Drive
Kingston, Jamaica
tel: 876 630-1592
OTHER DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES:
For distribution inquires for the Caribbean, South America, and Africa, please contact Tuff Gong PIctures.
Awards, Interviews, and Reviews
AWARDS:
- 2004 Festival International du Film Insulaire, Ole de Groix, Special Jury Prize
- 2004 PARIS HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL, SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
- LA Weekly's Ernest Hardy and Paul Malcolm pick Life and Debt in his Best Films 2002 list.
- CINEAMBIENTE INT. ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FEST. 2002 TEEN JURY BEST FILM OF FESTIVAL, TURIN, ITALY
- ONE WORLD 2002-PRAGUE HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL-AUDIENCE AWARD BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL
- ONE WORLD MEDIA AWARDS-FINALIST, INTERNATIONAL PREMIER AWARD, ENGLAND
- LIFE and DEBT WAS AWARDED BEST DOCUMENTARY AT THE JAMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL.
- LIFE AND DEBT RECEIVES THE CRITICS JURY AWARD, HONORABLE MENTION "BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL" AT THE INDEPENDENT FEATURE PROJECT/WEST LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL. The critics jury was comprised of Jami Bernard from the New York Daily News, Emanuel Levy of Screen Intl. and Stephanie Zacharaek of salon.com Over the nine-day event, 51 features and 48 shorts were screened for audiences that totaled more than 30,000.
INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTOR STEPHANIE BLACK:
- PBS/POV
- the Japan Times Online (interview in English)
- Music for America's Jennifer Zimmerman
- PopMatters' Film and TV Editor Cynthia Fuchs.
- BuzzFlash.com
REVIEWS:
- 'Life and Debt': One Love, One Heart, or a Sweatshop Economy? the New York Times reviews Life and Debt.
- by Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun Times
- by Loren King of the Chicago Tribune
- by Films Unlimited
- by The Guardian
- by Radio Times.
- Revealing the Transparent: Stephanie Black Unveils the Jamaican World Beyond Tourism. FrictionMagazine.com reviews Life and Debt.
- by Rachel Gordon in filmcritic.com
- by Michael Thomas of the New York Observer
- by Greg Tate of the Village Voice
- by Lenora Todaro of the Village Voice
- by Cynthia Fuchs of PopMatters
- by Philadelphia CityPaper.net
- by alternet.org and interspersed with interview commentary by the film's director, Stephanie Black.
- the New York Times mentions Life and Debt in their preview of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
- by the Japan Times Online Review written in English.
- by volume.com Includes video clips.
- by Film Four Extra
- by the Jacksonville Film Journal (4 stars out of 5)
- by TV Guide Online (3.5 stars out of 5)
- by about.com
- by Newark Star-Ledger (mentions Life and Debt in the Human Rights Watch Film Festival)
- by philly.com
- by Vinette K. Pryce of Entertainment Journalists Association of Jamaica.
- by The Jamaica Gleaner
- by CNN: 'Life and Debt' Explores Jamaica Debt Burden.
- Life and Debt: A Tourist's Review
- by Jah Works.
Downloads
Also Available
AFRICA UNITE (2008)
AFRICA UNITE is a singular and masterfully executed film that is at once concert tribute, Marley family travelogue, and humanitarian documentary, igniting the screen with the spirit of world renowned reggae icon BOB MARLEY in its every frame. In commemoration of Bob’s 60th birthday, Africa Unite is centered on the Marleys’ first time ever family trip to Ethiopia in 2005. Includes rare archival footage of world renowned reggae icon Bob Marley. There in the capital city of Addis Ababa three generations of Marleys take part in a 12 hour concert like no other, attended by more than 300,000 people from around the world, with the ultimate purpose of inspiring the young generations of Africa to unite for the future of their continent. Features exuberant on stage spots as well as a soundtrack brimming with Bob Marley studio classics.
Watch the trailer.
Purchase from Amazon.
News
H2 WORKER (1990) Now Available on DVD
A fascinating exposé of Florida’s sugar cane
industry guest worker program
Winner of the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival,
H-2 WORKER reveals the systematic exploitation of Caribbean
laborers by the Florida sugar industry from World War II through
the 1990s. Each year more than 10,000 foreign workers were
granted temporary guest worker (“H-2”) visas to spend six brutal
months cutting sugar cane near Lake Okeechobee. They were
housed in overcrowded barracks, denied adequate treatment for
frequent on-the-job injuries, and paid less than minimum wage.
Faced with deportation and soaring unemployment in their home
countries, workers had little recourse but to silently accept these
deplorable conditions.
For institutional purchase/classroom usage, please contact H2worker@gmail.com.
May 1, 2011 - Standing Up for Guest Workers - New York Times
Listen to Stephanie Black interviewed on WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report. Recorded Monday, May 25, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Download the mp3 here. (right-click and save to disk)
TRAILER
Download high resolution trailer here. (Quicktime file, 675mb)
More on H2 Worker.
More information on the current guestworker program expansion.
