Free Lunch Society

Austria / Germany 2017, 95 min., documentary, English and German (with English subtitles)
 
Writer/Director: Christian Tod, Cinematography: Lars Barthel, Joerg Burger, Editor: Cordula Werner, Elke Groen, Music: Peter Rösner, Producers: Arash T. Riahi, Karin C. Berger, Robert Cibis, Lilian Frank

What would you do if your income was taken care of? Just a few years ago, an unconditional basic income was considered a pipe dream. Today, this utopia is more imaginable than ever before – intense discussions are taking place in all political and scientific camps. Free Lunch Society provides background information about this idea and searches for explanations, possibilities and experiences regarding its implementation.
 
An unconditional basic income means money for everyone – as a human right without service in return. But is this concept a visionary reform project, neoliberal axe to the roots of the social state or socially romantic left-wing utopia? Depending on the type and scope, a basic income demonstrates very different ideological visions. Which side of the coin one sees depends on one's own idea of humankind: inactivity as sweet poison that seduces people into laziness, or freedom from material pressures as a chance for oneself and for the community. Do we actually need the whip of existential fear to avoid a lazy, depraved life in front of the TV set? Or does gainful employment give our lives meaning and social footing simply because we haven't known anything else for centuries? 

Trailer

That basic income is a powerful idea is indisputable. From Alaska's oil fields to the Canadian prairie, from Washington's think tanks to the Namibian steppes, Free Lunch Society takes us on a grand journey exploring one of the most crucial questions of our times.
 
Source: Icarus Films

FESTIVALS 

Docaviv 2017
Bergen International Film Festival 2017
CPH:DOX 2017
Docville, Belgium 2017

Back