How would you feel if the state sold the mountain above your village to a big multinational, your country’s beautiful islands, its beaches or your great monuments? Strangled by debt, governments and public administrations all over Europe try not only to reduce costs, but attempt to replenish their coffers by putting their most valued possessions on the market. More often than not, this includes part of the countries’ historical and natural heritage: castles, islands, mountains, beaches, palaces, ancient arenas and archaeological sites…
But who really owns these properties? Aren’t they our common heritage, our history that will end up in private or corporate hands and will no longer be accessible to all?
Or is the private sector more efficient in managing these properties? And if so, who decides on the best deal? Are there democratic proceedings for the sale of our common good? The people of Europe want accountability.
The film follows the stories in seven European countries. Whether it’s a forest in Ireland, remnants of the Berlin Wall, the Coliseum in Rome or a palace on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, our heritage has an economic value, but it has an even greater spiritual value.
The English version exists in a 52 and a 72 minute feature version. Both are online (click on the button to the right on the 'player' for the feature version).
Festivals and Awards:
2015: Winner of the Franco-German Prize of Journalism category video