The Take

Argentina is “the globalised ghost town,” a country that ended up on the brink of ruin due to the exportation of its capital. According to the filmmakers, this exposed once and for all the drawbacks of open-border trade. To them at least, because the IMF asked for drastic reforms from Argentina to make the country financially healthy again and simply put the same demands back on the table after the national bankruptcy. THE TAKE is an account of Klein and Lewis' tour along factories, schools and clinics that were reclaimed by employees. After the country had gone bankrupt, many employers left their factories behind empty, because allegedly they were no longer profitable. But the workers did not accept this. At various places across the country, they tried to get the production going again. This was not always easy, especially when former president Carlos Menem sought re-election. Many Argentines felt that he only represented the employers and would immediately reinstall the old economic system, were he re-elected. Naomi Klein – famous for her bestseller No Logo – and Avi Lewis follow the employees during the arduous redevelopment and interview not particularly obliging judges, employers and politicians.