Ovid.tv Presents ADAM SMITH, BIRTH OF THE FREE MARKET Film Review — Capitalism From Around the World

Adam Smith Birth of the Free Market takes us through the streets of Dorset, England. We eventually arrive at a farm nestled deep within the countryside. The farm, surrounded by lush vegetation, quaint country cottages, and clear blue skies, appears to be just one part of a thriving community. We then see the farm’s owner, a man who’s currently tending to his cows in front of a shed. Even when he takes a break to speak with us, his face is still lined with stress, and he maintains a permanent frown. He tells us a story about how large European corporations have been kicking farmers off their land for centuries, and how people became desperate to find jobs in the city as a result. He is painting a picture of how capitalism worked its way across Europe and forever changed the English economy.

We don’t only hear from experts. Much like the  European farmer, many of the documentary’s speakers are everyday people living the effects of their country’s previous decisions. The film puts a focus on their daily lives by including footage of crowded marketplaces, bustling city life, and cultural traditions. For what the director could not gather footage of, he incorporated interpretive artwork in its place. Key moments from historical expeditions, global conflicts, and social movements are flash-frozen in the form of old sketches and paintings. We also see important figures from history depicted in antique portraits alongside diagrams explaining their discoveries.