The end of poverty?

This documentary examines the inequitable distribution of wealth between rich and poor countries. A parade of on-screen experts, including Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, link today's wealth disparity to the lasting effects of colonialism and the ongoing workings of modern capitalism. The result, they say, are poor countries mostly in the southern hemisphere that stay impoverished by the vicious cycle of exporting low-cost raw materials and importing expensive finished goods. They lay out methods for reducing poverty, such as debt forgiveness and a reduction in consumption by wealthy nations. The film intersperses historic photos and segments where impoverished people in countries such as Kenya and Brazil describe their lives. Actor Martin Sheen provides low-key off-screen connecting narration. Occasional slides add data, for example, one billion people live in poor-country slums. The segments of ordinary people discussing their plight are riveting, but the experts, especially the non-English-language speakers, tend to blur into one another. Thought-provoking, this film is recommended for academic audiences and viewers interested in global poverty.--Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.