The Women’s Bank of Bangladesh
Micro Credit for Women: The Story of the Grameen Bank Series 2006
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Producer n/a
Director n/a
DVD, color, 47 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Banking, Economics, Asian Studies, Women's Studies, Business
Date Entered: 01/09/2007
Reviewed by Clarence Perkins, Bronx Community College, City University of New YorkIn December 2006, the Grameen Bank and its founder Economics Professor Muhammad Yunus, was awarded the Nobel Peace prize "for their efforts to create economic and social benefit from below." Filmed in impoverished Bangladesh, this documentary is the first of a series which shows the empowering and transformative effect of the Grameen Bank which provides small business loans (micro-credit) to struggling women. The documentary tells the story of the bank’s beginnings, its philosophical underpinnings and how it operates through interviews with Muhammad Yunus, the bank member/borrowers and their families, and the bank’s opponents. Traditional notions of banking, economics, and the role of women in this Islamic society are challenged and, in many cases, turned “upside- down.” For example, Professor Yunus explains how traditional banks are anti-poor because they require collateral to borrow money. He also mentions the failure of “university economic theories” to meet the needs of the poor. Only women who are landless and extremely poor qualify for a loan from the bank. Since they must sign for the loan, many are taught by the bank to write their name for the first time. Humanity and economics coexist together in this work. Subtitling is appropriately utilized and the DVD quality and cinematography are excellent.