When Cameron and his Tory Tosh came into power again this year, there was a divide within the population. Some were thrilled whilst the rest shoved their faces into their palms wailing in pain. Regardless of who you voted for, however, there is no denying that we are in the biggest world of austerity where the gap between the impoverished and the rich is so wide that not even The Rock can parachute over it San Andreas style. It’s something that has been brought up in film repeatedly but it’s nice to see the real lives of people on either side of the fault explain their issues in Katherine Round’s sensitive and poignant documentary, The Divide.
Round, Head of Doc Heads, has given us a provocative and alluring film that centres on its extrapolation of the subjects and how their lives are constantly effected. From massive companies who abuse the will of their workers with zero contracts and double shifts to those who have been stripped of security financial. What works exceedingly well is how Round and the people within the documentary lay bare the honesty that ripples against the stats we see daily. These are the humans having to limit their resources or work harder in order to stay afloat.
What is interesting here is that there isn’t really any divide between the people here at the core of it. Splicing together their stories with the media cases of bankers putting both the UK and US public into further poverty, it is clear that not one person is a true product of their laziness or gifted benefits from the state. Alden, who is the richest here, isn’t someone to demonise either. He makes epic sacrifices just to stay afloat and keep his family in the lifestyle he provides to them. His wife turns and says, “he knows if he is sick, he’ll lose money,” which is an entwining relationship with people like Janet who was downsized by Walmart.
There is no judgement in The Divide. Ultimately, despite the belief of some (rhymes with Batie Bopkins), Round manages to marry both sides and showcase circumstance and environment, class and opportunities are perhaps the reason for people being so separated by finances. Not one person here is without spirit, kindness, honesty, love or hard work. True, some have given in to the world around them but it is treated with the sensitivity and kindness of Round’s astute film. The sublime set up for these characters to tell their tales, the mirror interviews, the bed shots and more all reflect the spirit of one another in evocative storytelling.
The Divide is sublime - achingly so. A must see for all ages, all races and all classes.