
Class Divide
2016

2015
Director
Katharine Round
Runtime
78 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
The Divide tells the story of 7 individuals striving for a better life in modern day US and UK - where the top 0.1% owns as much wealth as the bottom 90%. By plotting these tales together, we uncover how virtually every aspect of our lives is controlled by one factor: the size of the gap between rich and poor.The film is inspired by "The Spirit Level" by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film provides a baseline for non-heteronormative lived experiences through diverse personal narratives. It explores how economic vulnerability intersects with identity within the US and UK contexts.
Gender Representation
The narrative disrupts traditional patriarchal tropes by highlighting how economic disenfranchisement affects all individuals. It moves away from the 'stable male leader' archetype to focus on systemic instability.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The focus on the bottom 90% necessitates a diverse cast to reflect demographic realities. The film is positioned to show how minorities often occupy the most precarious economic positions.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film adopts a systemic view of power by critiquing Western institutional structures. It frames the concentration of wealth as an oppressive force against the collective social fabric.
Disability Representation
The structural approach allows for the portrayal of disability as a factor exacerbated by missing social safety nets. It avoids framing health struggles as personal failings.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
The Divide functions as a sociological critique of wealth disparity, utilizing the framework of 'The Spirit Level' to examine the friction between the 0.1% and the bottom 90%. By shifting the focus from individual merit to systemic influence, the film deconstructs the illusions of the American Dream. The documentary effectively uses socioeconomic status as a lens to examine broader identity politics. It moves away from traditional success stories to highlight how macro-economic forces dictate human experiences. While the film provides a platform for intersectional identities, the specific depth of representation for certain groups remains tied to the broader economic narrative rather than isolated character studies.

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