ABACUS makes its TV debut on frontline
Steve James of HOOP DREAMS, The INTERRUPTERS, and STEVIE fame, has made another gem of a documentary that brings out some of the best (and, to a lesser extent, worst) faces of the human condition. Many know a little about the story of the only American bank indicted for criminal fraud after the great meltdown of 2006. The rough outline is that a Savings and Loan owned by the Sung family in New York's Chinatown was selected by NY Attorney General Cyrus Vance, Jr. (yes,--the son of that Cyrus Vance) to be an example of how the system can hold banksters accountable. But ABACUS (the name of the bank) is not the story you think you've watched a dozen or more times about rogue Wall Streeters, mathematicians and con men. Matt Taibbi does put in an appearance; there is a trial; there is a run on the bank; there are crooks . . . but that's NOT why you should see it.
Beyond the suspense and heroes and villains, the film evokes sympathy for our own, man-made disasters, for a different segment of our immigrant mix and winds up flipping what we think we know about victimless crime. More to the point, there is a lesson here for all Americans in what it means to save face; to rely on family and to find our better angels. James focuses once again on the flesh and blood stories that dangle far below the headlines To say more is to be a spoiler. See it because it is RESTORATIVE! There's a glimmer of hope that shines through the darkness . . . and, wonder of wonders, some really likeable people.
Kudos to Steve James, to our producing friends at Kartemquin Films and to PBS and Frontline for airing something special that everyone should see.
Beyond the suspense and heroes and villains, the film evokes sympathy for our own, man-made disasters, for a different segment of our immigrant mix and winds up flipping what we think we know about victimless crime. More to the point, there is a lesson here for all Americans in what it means to save face; to rely on family and to find our better angels. James focuses once again on the flesh and blood stories that dangle far below the headlines To say more is to be a spoiler. See it because it is RESTORATIVE! There's a glimmer of hope that shines through the darkness . . . and, wonder of wonders, some really likeable people.
Kudos to Steve James, to our producing friends at Kartemquin Films and to PBS and Frontline for airing something special that everyone should see.
Steve James - Director of ABACUS
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