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  • Engels Loan Shark
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Documentaire / Korte films
Tsjechië, 2002, 28 min

Samenvattingen(1)

Martin Řezníček’s film, made in conjunction with People in Need and Czech Television, examines a phenomenon that has spread among socially excluded communities in the Czech Republic: usury, or money-lending. How it works is illustrated through the story of one Romany family - borrow money and pay back double the amount after a month. If the borrower can’t pay, the figure doubles for the next month. This merry-go-round continues until the sum owed is astronomical, culminating not only in an inability to repay but, in many cases, murder. Romany creditors (loan sharks) don’t wear kid gloves. Released in 2001, this documentary shows money-lending as a new problem in socially excluded localities. As more and more people are falling into the societal abyss, the situation would appear similarly bleak if the film had been made a decade later, including the xenophobic and racist statements of elected representatives. The latter make no effort to solve the problem; indeed, they would prefer it if troublesome locals moved to “a cave outside town.” (One World)

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