Four Horsemen

Gr 9 Up—Using the analogy of the apocalypse, writer Dominic Frisby examines the worldwide financial upheaval from 2008 to the present. Headings of "Empires," "Banking," "Terrorism," "Resources," and "Conquest" divide Ross Ashcroft's documentary, as monetary policies and economic systems are examined and often found lacking. Most of those making comments are male, though not all are white. They don't sugarcoat their criticism of "politics as usual," and how those they portray as greedy financiers brought economic upheaval to the world. Students will likely find the lifecycle of empires intriguing. The comments on the morality of wealth and the relationship between having more "stuff" and third world poverty and the depletion of natural resources may be uncomfortable for some viewers. Lobbyists, bankers, baby boomers, and some military contractors come in for significant criticism. The film assumes a basic knowledge of concepts, such as capitalism and adjustable rate mortgages. Despite engaging animations, the difference between fiat and gold standard or between the classical and neoclassical economic models may not be clear to all viewers. Brief clips from old movies illustrate many points, though some flow into the concepts more naturally than others. While the film is critical of many current systems, it concludes on an optimistic note: what humans created, humans can change. Four Horsemen requires a significant investment of class time, but offers a provocative viewpoint for intermediate and advanced economics classes.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX