The Emperor's New Clothes

The fable of the emperor who dresses in costumes of invisible cloth is a perfect metaphor for today’s politics. But on this occasion, the job of revealing the king’s nakedness falls to acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom and, in front of the camera, comedian-cum-activist Russell Brand. And the tale takes us on a tour of the financial crisis and economic inequality in the United Kingdom. While some 20 years ago the CEO of one large company earned 10 times the average salary of an employee, today that multiple has risen to 200 times. According to figures from Oxfam, the richest 80 people in the world own as much as the poorest 3.5 billion. Instead of changing the system for the benefit of everyone, the 2008 crisis has further widened the gap between rich and poor.

Combining interviews with Michael Moore style performative routines, Russell Brand takes us first to his Essex hometown and then to New York City. We get to see how the added value created by the vast majority in flexible production practices is converted into luxury lifestyles by the people at the top. The Emperor’s New Clothes calls for change in the face of this naked reality.