美国统治阶级

  • 120分钟
  • TheAmericanRulingClass,theworldsfirstdramatic-docu… TheAmericanRulingClass,theworldsfirstdramatic-documentary-musical,exploresourcountrysmosttabootopic:class,powerandprivilegeinournominallydemocraticrepublic.Thisfeature-lengthsatirestarsLewisLapham,therenownedessayistandauthor,andaheavy-weightensemblecastthatincludesformercabinetsecretaries,corporatemandarins,mediamagnates,andatleastonejournalistworkingasawaitress.ThefilmfollowsLaphamandtworecentYalegraduatesastheymaketheroundsofPentagonbriefings,theWorldEconomicForum,philanthropicfoundations,lawfirms,corporationsbanks,andNewYorksocietydinnersastheyattempttoanswerthequestion,WhorulesAmerica? Thenarrativeportionofthefilm,interwoventhroughout,tellsthestoryoftworepresentativegraduates,onerichandonepoorastheyseekdirectionintheirlives.DoesAmericahavearulingclass?Ifso,ofwhatisitmade,andhowdoesitco-existwithourdemocracy?Howdoesonejoinit:shouldoneevenwantto?Thereallifeluminariesbecomecharactersinastoryaboutpoweranditsresponsibilities,andbythefilmsend,theyoungmenmustdecide:dotheywishtoruletheworldorsaveit? Appearinginthefilmarearangeofleadersfromacrossthepoliticalspectrum,amongthem:RobertB.Altman,JamesA.BakerIII,BillBradley,HaroldBrown,HoddingCarterIII,WilliamT.Coleman,Jr.,WalterCronkite,BarbaraEhrenreich,MartinGarbus,VartanGregorian,MikeMedavoy,JosephS.Nye,Jr.,SamuelPeabody,PeterG.Peterson,PeteSeeger,LawrenceH.Summers,ArthurO.Sulzberger,Jr.,WilliamHowardTaftIVandKurtVonnegut. Aswewatchthesetworeal-lifegraduateswendtheirwaythroughwhatisonlyaslightfictionalizingoftheiractuallivesandchoices,aswemeetformerSecretariesofStateandDefense,directorsoftheTrilateralCommissionandtheCouncilonForeignRelations,thepublisherofTheNewYorkTimes,andahostofothers,wemustask(alongwithMr.Lapham):"Towhatend,thegeniusoftheWallStreetbanksandtheforceofthePentagon'scolossalweapons?WheredoesAmericadiscoverthewisdomtoplaywithitswonderfultoys?"ThepossibleanswersmovebeyondthehollowcategoryofpartyaffiliationandintotheheartofAmericanOligarchyitself.