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The Old School of Capitalism

The Old School of Capitalism

2009

Director

Želimir Žilnik

Runtime

122 minutes

Average Rating

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Synopsis

A mixture of documentary and fiction examines the new god of Capitalism offered to the Serbs with the ending of state socialism. We look at a number of strikes in Belgrade during the late 2000s and these introduce us to several characters playing themselves. Employees dressed in American football helmets and pads square up with employers' heavies in their bullet-proof vests, resulting in explosive situations. A visit from the Russian tycoon's representative and vice president Joe Biden's arrival further complicates the proceedings.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.5/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or explorations of non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focus remains centered on class struggle and labor relations.

Gender Representation

Fair

The film engages with workplace power dynamics through industrial strikes. While it centers working-class agency against authority, specific data on gender-based subversion is not provided.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The work prioritizes a non-Western perspective by centering the Serbian experience. It uses international figures to highlight the friction between local identity and globalized hegemony.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film offers a strong critique of neoliberal institutions, framing the transition to capitalism as the arrival of a 'new god.' It prioritizes systemic critique over Western economic ideals.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no discernible evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the film's narrative.

Strengths

  • Provides a significant departure from Anglo-centric narratives by centering the Serbian experience.
  • Offers a powerful systemic critique of neoliberalism and the arrival of global capitalism.
  • Highlights the agency of the working class against institutional and economic authority.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation or exploration of LGBTQ+ identities and non-heteronormative dynamics.
  • Provides no discernible evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • The degree of gender-based subversion within the labor narrative remains unconfirmed.

AI Analysis

Želimir Žilnik’s documentary provides a vital non-Western perspective on the transition from state socialism to capitalism in Serbia. By focusing on local labor strikes and the friction caused by globalized economic shifts, the film challenges the perceived inevitability of capitalist hegemony. The work excels in its cultural critique, framing economic shifts as a systemic imposition rather than progress. It uses the lived experiences of the Serbian working class to deconstruct dominant socio-economic frameworks and institutional authority. However, the film's focus on class and industrial conflict leaves significant gaps in identity-based representation. There is no clear evidence regarding LGBTQ+ identities or disability representation, and gender dynamics remain unconfirmed.

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