Life & Debt

         "Life & Debt" depicts life in Jamaica, starting after 1962 when Jamaica won its independence from the United Kingdom. Through many interviews with public officials and the people of Jamaica you learn that the island nation has long struggled with poverty but have attempted to use its agricultural resources in order to create a sound economic base. However, their financial problems grew worse over time and the Prime Minister Michael Manley struck a deal in 1977 with the International Monetary Fund. They would loan money to the nation in exchange for removal of trade restrictions and subsidized exports. After twenty-five years, most Jamaicans would have to agree that the deal broke the island’s agricultural and industrial economy. Through this film, filmmaker Stephanie Black examines the sad state of Jamaica’s economy and the lives of its people in the middle of globalization. More importantly she compares the lives of the Jamaica people to  those who come to Jamaica for vacation. This contrast between the to the lives of the Jamaican’s and the tourist gives the viewer a way to best understand the impact Jamaica’s economy is having on its people. The narration over the tourist scenes from the Jamaica Kincaid novel,  “A Small Place” though condescending at times is very effective at getting the audience to truly think about this story from the perspective of the Jamaican people. Overall, this was a wonderfully put together documentary and it definitely wins its argument in the end.