HOME MADE MONEY
Jan Vrijman Fund: Films by Developing Country Filmmakers

"Every man thus lives by exchanging, or becomes in some measure a merchant, and the society itself grows to be what is properly a commercial society."

Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature And Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776

HOME MADE MONEY puts a human face on a story of hyperinflation, currency collapse and the vicissitudes of market economics.

The developed market in Argentina was nearly destroyed through domestic and international mismanagement and manipulation, as well as political corruption. Following the 2001 collapse of the peso, pensioners were left penniless and working people's salaries were rendered nearly worthless. The citizenry, especially the one-third of the population living below the poverty line, was left with the need to exchange goods and services. People still needed to eat, clothe their children, fix their toaster ovens and make their way in the world.

In the words of the man pictured on the US $100 bill, "necessity is the mother of invention." Starting with a simple swap meet, a small group of men and women created a program in which members could buy coupons that could be exchanged only within the cooperative. The system started with clothing and baked goods and grew to include home repair services, electronic equipment and much more. It was a small shadow economy operating in broad daylight. In a twist of economic fate, the barter system was destroyed through the introduction of counterfeit currency. The film suggests that the government may have orchestrated the introduction of faux currency, leading to hyperinflation and the collapse of this neighborhood market.

Patricia Finneran

Alejo Hoijman was born in 1972 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started to work at film industry when he was 19 years old, with the Argentinean director Pino Solanas. Since then, he has edited feature and documentary films and has directed some TV programs in the most important television channels from Argentina. At present, he is completing a master's degree program in Arts, Cinema and Theatre Orientation, at Buenos Aires University, College of Philosophy. HOME MADE MONEY is his first film as director.

Print Source:
Alejo Hoijman
Borges 2258
Buenos Aires 1425
Argentina
Tel: 54.11.6327.9059
Fax: 54.11.4541.4969
Email: alejohh@gmail.com

Friday 6/17 at 5:00 p.m.

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