The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMovie reviews

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

Capital in the Twenty-First Century | Movie review
21 September 2020
Tau Nell
Avatar
Tau Nell
21 September 2020

Movie and show review

Tau Nell

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

★★★★★

Release date

25th September 2020

Certificate

UPG12A1518 title=

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

Organising a voyage through history is not easy, especially if you intend to keep all of your passengers on board throughout the ride. It is even more challenging when many of the journey’s vistas are unsightly, its course is bumpy, and there are 300 years’ worth of stops to make. Justin Pemberton’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century, however, manages to pick up its audience in the 1700s and, after a whirlwind tour through time, safely drops them in the modern day, still engaged and interested. But can you really learn about three centuries of world economic history in 103 minutes?

First, and nearly foremost, the film is immersive. As we travel through the past, the soundtrack, visuals, and pop culture references evolve around us. The Roaring Twenties are epitomised by breathtaking footage of a silver eagle being placed atop the Chrysler Building. 1950s America is illustrated by a nuclear family watching a modern-day expert explain the era’s economic landscape through an old tube TV. The re-emerging class divides of the 80s are typified through contrasting scenes of crumbling Harlem and ever-younger, ever-richer Wall Street. Stylistically, this is a strikingly slick affair. Capital in the Twenty-First Century conveys masses of information not only digestibly, but deliciously.

Impressive editing and accessible delivery aside, however, there is perhaps less to the documentary than meets the eye. It revolves around a few key points, most of which viewers will have heard by now. Messages such as “money determines social mobility” and “capitalism must be controlled” are not exactly groundbreaking. However, this may only be the case because of the recent societal reckoning with wealth. This film was produced in 2018, just before multi-billionaires like Jeff Bezos became mainstream debate subjects – had the documentary premiered two years ago, its observations could have made a greater impact, but the public got there first.

Nevertheless, this work still packs some heavy punches. Did you know that the 18th century’s wealth gap was so extreme that the average life expectancy was just 17? Or that even today, 1% of our population owns 70% of our land? Bombshells like these make the film worth watching, but it is worth noting the biased narrative it upholds. This said, is a successful documentary one that lays out its argument and manages to convince you? Or one that simply presents facts and leaves you to make up your own mind?

Capital in the Twenty-First Century is not a balanced account of world economic history, but it is hardly an incendiary piece of propaganda. While serious aspiring economists should seek more impartial information sources, casual viewers will appreciate this approachable take on a topic which might not otherwise interest them. Overall, the film is engrossing, enlightening and enjoyable.

★★★★★

Tau Nell

Capital in the Twenty-First Century is released nationwide on 25th September 2020.

Watch the trailer for Capital in the Twenty-First Century here:

Related Items21st centurycapital in the twenty-first centuryjustin pembertonmoviereview

More in Movie reviews

Nope

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

Eiffel

★★★★★
Diletta Lobuono
Read More

Fadia’s Tree

★★★★★
Marissa Khaos
Read More

Prey

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

What Josiah Saw

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Luck

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

Maisie

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Bullet Train

★★★★★
Matthew McMillan
Read More

Thirteen Lives

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Tau Nell

Capital in the Twenty-First Century

★★★★★

Release date

25th September 2020

Certificate

UPG12A1518 title=

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Tips for creating a peaceful home
    Feature of the week
  • Royal Ballet School students return to the stage for post-Covid performances
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ed Fringe 2022: Hungry
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • “Film offers a way of looking at the past, the present and the future simultaneously. That’s its wonder”: Sarah Beddington on Fadia’s Tree
    Cinema & Tv
  • Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Rita at Charing Cross Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “Even people who’ve been through adversity might say ‘Well, I wouldn’t change anything because I wouldn’t be who I am'”: Eva Noblezada and Flula Borg on Luck
    Cinema & Tv
  • Five Days at Memorial
    ★★★★★
    apple
  • South Facing Festival: Richard Ashcroft and his band were on impressive form from start to finish
    ★★★★★
    Live music
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Big Girl at the Bread and Roses Theatre | Theatre review
Enola Holmes | Movie review