In order to understand this frightening and powerful documentary, you have to understand the meaning of two terms:

(1) Democracy: government in which the common people hold the ruling power either directly or more usually, through elected (by a majority) representatives; the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment.

(2) World Trade Organization (WTO): from the film itself, it “is the latest in a series of transnational bodies and agreements to regulate the global economy. It can use sanctions and fines to override the labor, safety, and environmental standards of individual nations.”

What is this film about? In Nov. 1999, the WTO was scheduled to hold its last meeting of the millennium at the convention center (behind closed doors) in downtown Seattle, Washington. Activists (from all over the world) prepared to blockade the streets to prevent the meeting from taking place since they perceive the actions of the WTO to be unfair favoring corporate greed over the working guy/gal. Over thirty thousand protesters converged on downtown Seattle.

The viewer is told that “by the end of the week, demonstrations were being held around the world in solidarity with the protests in Seattle.”

The viewer is presented with powerful images of the protest “that was shot by over one hundred media activists.” Also there is printed information that appears (for example, the definition of WTO above) and footage of protesters and protest leaders saying what’s on their mind. Parts of this documentary are narrated. (Susan Sarandon is one of the narrators.)