Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers
In recent times the social justice documentary has emerged as a strong and media savvy force in the cinema. Along with Michael Moore’s “Bowling for Columbine”, another film that has had a rousing social impact is “The Corporation” by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan – Canada’s highest grossing feature documentary ever. Screening as part of the 51st Sydney Film Festival, is the musical doco “SURPLUS – Terrorised into Being Consumers”. Among the famous cameo’s are George W Bush and his famous ’shopping’ speech, while Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer preach that the computer brings people together and will give us peace on earth. But Adbuster Kalle Lasn warns that advertising is a form of mental pollution, and that over-consumption is unsustainable, while writer John Zerzan has a more extreme view, believing that Property Damage is a form of social action. David Jobling spoke with the director of SURPLUS, Sweden-based filmmaker, Eric Gandini, about the inspiration behind this film.
Surplus: Terrorized into Being Consumers