Our Brand Is Crisis (2005)

A documentary on American political campaign marketing tactics and their consequences.

Director:

Rachel Boynton

Writer:

Rachel Boynton

Stars:

Mauricio Balcazar, James Carville, Tad Devine

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mauricio Balcazar	...	Himself (Goni's Press Advisor)
James Carville	...	Himself - GCS Strategist
Tad Devine	...	Himself (GCS Advertising Consultant)
Stanley Greenberg	...	Himself (GCS Pollster)
Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert	...	Himself - Bolivia's Vice Presidential Candidate
Carlos Mesa	...	Himself (VP Candidate)
Carlos Morales	...	Himself - Campaign Manager
Evo Morales	...	Himself (Opposing Candidate)
Henry Oporto	...	Himself
Manuel Rocha	...	Himself - US Ambassadir to Bolivia (archive footage)
Jeremy Rosner	...	Himself - GCS Pollster and Chief Strategist
Robert Shrum	...	Himself - GCS partner
Tal Silberstein	...	Himself (GCS Management Consultant)
Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada	...	Himself (Bolivia's Presidential Candidate)
Manfred Reyes Villa	...	Himself (Opposing Candidate)

Storyline

A documentary on American political campaign marketing tactics and their consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

marketing | campaign | tv show | capitalism | campaign headquarters | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 March 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Presidentin tekijät

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,970 (USA) (3 March 2006)

Gross:

$166,320 (USA) (22 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boynton Films Production, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Films Transit International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)

User Reviews

American-Exported Politics To Bolivia

In the early 2000s, a Bolivian politician tried to return to power and the presidency. Not content to do things the Bolivian way, he hired some American strategists, Jeremy Posner and the legendary James Carville. What followed was a campaign that was orchestrated to win, regardless of the methods necessary.

It's hard to say what the message of "Our Brand Is Crisis" is. My friend Chelsea, whom lent it to me, sees it as a critique of American culture and values pervading other countries. And she is, of course, right. I am not sure how Bolivian elections were run before, but here they were fine-tuned to the point of a science, where the formula wasn't necessarily genuine.

Opponents were smeared in television ads, where a man's military background was exploited to make him look less trustworthy. Demographics were sorted out, and focus groups were asked very specific questions, and results were tabulated before each television ad to change the message and look. Failures (such as low job creation) were turned into promises. This was American-style politics, where style trumps substance, and promises don't mean any guarantee.

And, of course, while the focus was on Bolivia (and the aftermath that lead to a complete collapse of order), the same critiques can be made of America. We have calls for "hope" and "change" and try to portray politicians as someone we would want to have a beer with. Politics in general is a farce, with real ideas being ignored for less important issues. But nowhere do we see this more than during campaigns, where a military record could create or destroy a candidate, not to mention their sexual history. And, of course, neither military service or sex will determine how they vote in most cases.

I found this film to be very powerful, and for the most part unbiased. I think it had a general left lean to it, but there was little commentary. We were given Posner and Carville unfiltered, so we can interpret them as we see fit. I found some of their words insightful and inspiring, but mostly was saddened that Americans could come to Bolivia and change everything in a place they knew little about (though, in Posner's defense, he seemed to have a general knowledge).