Prisoners of Debt (80s financial crisis)

For those of you who believe that all of the financial crisis of today are something new, I’d like to remind you that we are reliving history in some ways (over, and over, and over again).

The NFB has another very interesting feature film about another Debt Crisis, but this one happens in the 80’s.

This feature documentary reveals how Bank of Montreal chairman William Mulholland dealt with his debt-laden customers Dome Petroleum and Mexico during the global debt crisis of ’82. Interviews with bankers and financial experts demystify the causes of debt crisis, confirm the fragility of the international banking system and outline the problems to be solved if the system is to survive.

This is over 38 years ago, but a global debt crisis, how could that happen again? Hmmm….

Prisoners of Debt: Inside the Global Banking Crisis, Peter Raymont & Robert Collison, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

NFB Videos

• How do you make money? The NFB shows you how the mint does it.
• Do you remember the crash of ‘82? The NFB does. Here is a short, talking about the banking problems then.
• The October Crisis is one of Canadian history’s most critical moments, leading to the 1976 Quebec Election.
• Before the October Crisis you had Expo 67 which was a magical time in Montreal.
• How do you stop things that should happen from happening? NFB has some ideas.
• What happens when cars take over? Now that is a possibility.
• A special Mother’s Day message from the National Film Board.
• Do you understand the Vastness that is Canada? This NFB short will give you a glimpse.
• After the Axe is about someone getting laid off, which is close to my heart.
• Vimy Ridge some argue is when Canada became a nation, the NFB has a perspective on it.
• Who hasn’t felt apprehensive at the thought of starting high school?
• NFB does a Fire Prevention short? Why yes, they did.
• Christmas is a subject the NFB has a lot of shorts about. This one looks at both sides of the holiday.
• Do you want an old box for Christmas? An NFB animation might make you want this
• Toronto Boom Town, which grew even larger with the help of the 1976 Quebec election.
• The Faces montage is another amazing bit of animation.
• Here is hockey, or at least how Hockey was back in the 60’s!
• Paddle to the Sea is one of my favourite shorts from the NFB
• The NFB does create some of the most beautiful Christmas Cards.
• The Sweater is another of my favourite NFB shorts, a story that tugs at my heartstrings.