Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers

2003 0h 54m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★6.5TMDB · 40★6.9IMDB · 1,513

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Swedish documentary film on consumerism and globalization, created by director Erik Gandini and editor Johan Söderberg. It looks at the arguments for capitalism and technology, such as greater efficiency, more time and less work, and argues that these are not being fulfilled, and they never will be. The film leans towards anarcho-primitivist ideology and argues for "a simple and fulfilling life".

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

John Zerzan
Self
George W. Bush
Self (archive footage)
Fidel Castro
Self
Kalle Lasn
Self - Adbusters
Matt McMullen
Self - RealDoll
Steve Ballmer
Self (archive footage)
Bill Gates
Self
Tania
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Erik Gandini
Writers: Erik Gandini
Languages: English, Spanish, Swedish
Countries: Sweden

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 54-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Spanish, Swedish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Johan Söderberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Zerzan and George W. Bush and Fidel Castro carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0368314 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 40 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Erik Gandini directs. Johan Söderberg cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Sweden. Dialogue in English, Spanish, Swedish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 54-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 23 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Spanish, Swedish.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Editor Johan Söderberg shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6John Zerzan and George W. Bush and Fidel Castro carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0368314 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 40 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.