The Corporation - Documentary - My own review

Well I finally saw the Corporation myself last night. I had earlier posted a review from a early reviewer but feel compelled to add my own words today. But first a snip from the major review - "The Corporation will teach you things you never dreamed of. It will change you. It will ruin your day, but give you reason to get up in the morning - determined to make change."

My overwhelming response? That I had no idea how completely we have been captured by an idea before last night. As the images and the conversation flowed by I could only be reminded of what it must be like to live in a totalitarian state.

What I saw for the first time was the pervasive and well put together propaganda - the overwhelming resources and the reach into our young reminded me of Goebbels on a good day - that has been pumped into us for 50 years. When we are captured as babes we do not even know that we have been captured. It is easy for us to laugh at Soviet or Nazi propaganda but as I watched 2 hours of corporate propaganda - I began to "see" it for what it is - the same only smarter.

The corporate state is totalitarian in that it brooks not only no rivals but that it insinuates itself into all areas of life - not the least into our family and personal life. As man and woman we have developed corporate relationships where we become objective commodities. Don't like the current model, trade her in for a new one. Our children become fetish objects - we are proud to have them but we want them to be convenient - we don't want to invest our time and energy into them. After all we are too busy getting the money out there to buy the stuff. Wouldn't another toy appease them anyway? At work, we see all others as expendable - we vote them off the Island. We cheer when Donald says - "You're fired" We see the environment as a thing to be exploited.

We even betray our parents to the regime. Many of my friends came to PEI in the 1970's as back to the landers. None of them live like that anymore. Why? Because their children nagged them into buying the deal.

An epiphanic film - new word? Running though it are a number of brave people who speak out not the least my friend Ray Anderson. It is hard to watch this film and just continue with life as it is. The hopeful message is that social movements have a good track record in over throwing totalitarian regimes. Gandhi is a great model. It must have seemed as overwhelming to him to overthrow the Raj as it appears to me to overthrow this ideology that is killing our soul and the world around us.

The core question it raises for me is - what am I going to do I think the time is over for the question of what are they going to do. There is only the action that I take or not that is on the table. Will I be brave enough to step aside from the system? What does this mean? Can I live with myself now I know if I choose to remain?

Comments

[Fernando Cassia]

I just wonder WHERE have you seen such films ??. I went to IMDB.com and The Corporation is not available for sale on any format.

I'm out of the US and/or Canada, what's the option for us to watch this movie?

Thanks
FC

[Robert Paterson]

I hear that the DVD will be out in September. Here is the link to there site that has a mailing list for the DVD.
http://www.thecorporation.tv/splash.php

[akb]

A version that appeared on Canadian TV is available for download in high quality VCD and 256kbps mpeg4 from the Internet Archive. Go here:

http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=opensource_movies&collectionid=Corporation

[Corinne]

Hello Robert,

My boss (a prominent film director here in LA) is interested in seeing your film, "The Corporation". I tried to download the version that aired in Canada but it said I needed a passport. Might you be able to help me with this?

Thank you again and congratulations,
Corinne

[Robert Paterson]

Hi Corinne
This is not my film - I am only a big fan.
I suggest you go to the films real site and ask there
http://www.thecorporation.tv/splash.php

[eelke]

is there still an internet link of this movie..??

[Mark Achbar]

Really, really appreciate the review. Breathtaking. Appreciate less the promotion of downloading the film off the internet. Trying to get out of massive debt, pay back investors, survive, perhaps even make another film. How about supporting independent filmmakers whose work you like by encouraging people to see the film in a theatre, encouraging your local cinema to bring it in, or perhaps by organizing a screening through its distributor, or perhaps getting a library or other institution to order a copy (available this fall), or by waiting patiently till I finish and release the 2-DVD set? Downloading the products of publicly-traded mega-corporations is another matter. If you just can't wait, and no other screening option is available, why not think of the film as shareware, and, if you like it, donate to its creators. It's easy to do through our site: www.thecorporation.com.

Best,

Mark Achbar
Executive Producer, Producer, Co-director etc.
The Corporation

[Robert Paterson]

Hi Mark

I am not advocating downloading of your film. If you look at the links, I have pointed people to your site.

I think what you are seeing in a small way here is some frustration with access.

Without a major release, a DVD or a download is how people will surely seek to see your excellent film.

[Robert Robinson]

Hi Robert:
Great Review. "Frustration with access". Amen. I drove 80 miles on labor day to an independent Santa Ana, CA theater to see Mark Achbar's excellent film "The Corporation".
It is the best movie I've seen in decades. Better than Faranheit 9/11.
Best,
--br

[Robert Robinson]

Hi Robert:
Great Review. "Frustration with access". Amen. I drove 80 miles on labor day to an independent Santa Ana, CA theater to see Mark Achbar's excellent film "The Corporation".
It is the best movie I've seen in decades. Better than Faranheit 9/11.
Best,
--br

[Cate]

I couldn't talk any of my friends into going to see "The Corporation" when it was in Milwaukee for a short run. Fortunately our local university is sponsoring several showings later this month. I still can't find anyone to go, and given the weighty nature of the film it would be nice to have company, but I'm just glad I'll be able to see it. Thank for your great review. I'm looking forward to it "ruining my day" but also looking forward to continuing my activist work for peace and justice with more gusto. Vote for Kerry and continue working for more progressive candidates on the local and national level.

[Mark Achbar]

Dude, the film will MAKE your day!

If you go by yourself I'm certain the place will be filled with like-minded people, there will be people with info tables etc. and you'll have at least one new friend in no time. That's what I love about public screenings. They bring all kinds of people together who might not have otherwise had a chance to meet.

[annick moulin]

When will the DVD be available in France? We managed to get a copy for 200 high school students in October in a cinema in my town, Besançon. We need english (&french)subtitles to work on the film(I'm an english teacher). I am eager to show it to my friends. I saw it last August... greatly educational

[Jeremy]

Rob, I finally saw this film when my library got a copy. Wonderful, powerful stuff.

[robert Paterson]

Hi jeremy