Oliver's Deal

I like watching movies about other cultures other than my own.

The structure of The Debt told a human very story as they say:

A nurse desperate to find a way to get her sick mother the surgery she needs.

A small boy learning the hard way how to take care of his father's land.

A man born in Peru and educated in America trying to balance business with doing the right thing for his people.

http://cinemagardens.com/index.php/2016/07/11/the-debt

It's down to Earth sub plots like this that make the movie pop out and come together so well.

I really loved the back drop of Peru. it's a beautiful country, and the sound of the wind blowing into the boom mic actually made me feel like I was there.

The Debt has a lot of layers to it because of all the sub stories and lead to one huge plot about an international fiancé deal going south and Stephen Dorff's character, Oliver's attempts to fix it, but it never gets too complex that you can't follow, even with the subtitles.

Very low key movie does not hold back the emotional and political drama it is.

The Debt features riveting talent all across the board. Blade's Stephen Dorff and The Bourne Ultimatum's David Strathairn shine as the bankers who attempt to acquire land from a Peruvian family. Barney Elliott has managed to put together a moving cast that portrays the suspenseful story; with a special mention for Elsa Olivero who gives a heartbreaking performance as a nurse who tries desperately to care for her sick mother. The narrative is topical as it involves three separate stories that intertwine because of a deal to buy some land in Peru by New York financiers. In my opinion, newcomer Barney Elliott showcases great direction and writing as presented by a surprising turn the film makes, which caught me off guard. Furthermore, the film is shot beautifully as Peru is such a vibrant setting. It's great to see an independent movie that utilizes every frame from start to finish and kept me on edge. I recommend that any film lover see this feature.

In this story the common conceptions of the international free trade system are confronted. The film brings together the lives of various parties and focuses upon the fate of one boy.

Individuals can be understood as separate and distant from each other. Yet in this depiction, the interdependence of individuals, of their actions, within the global economic system is brought into question.

The film attempts to bring light upon and question the issues of independence, of the seemingly autonomous existence capitalism promotes and depicts the interconnected nature of dealings across the international economy, ultimately bringing the various parties together to confront the realities of the decisions they make.

The writer/director does not attempt to go into the philosophy of film, nor do they give bourgeois depictions of meaning to life, but faces the realities of the system in which we live. It's not happy go lucky, the film is not an objection to capitalism nor does it try to be a sermon of the misfortunes of the poor and the evil natures of the rich, but presents a perspective of the responsibilities and realities we face in the economically focused lifestyles which we are a part of.

In the same vain as 'blood diamond' and 'promised land'.

A huge financial deal 2 years in the making, cancelled. A nurse who finds ulterior means to help her Mother who desperately needs an operation. A young boy whose Father behaves like an ogre towards him and a good man who is torn between his position,loyalty towards his people and his best friend, and with all this in the mix "something" has to give and when it does the price will be heavy. Excellent acting from the greatly under-rated David Strathairn, Stephen Dorff, always watchable and this time he plays against type as a man who is prepared to tread on as many toes as is necessary to get what he wants - but has he a redeeming factor? Watch and see. Elsa Olivero who is faced with a really life-threatening decision just when she believes she has at last succeeded, Alberto Ammann as Riccardo. I really enjoy these types of dramas where so many irons are in the fire at once and they gradually ALL come together but NOT always in a good or happy way.

This movie plays different story's that interlace. Showing greed, corruption, suffering, and repentance. This movie ending scene and soundtrack are amazing, very similar to Steven Soderbergh Traffic ending and Brian Eno An Ending soundtrack.