I. O. U. S. A. Documentary from filmmaker Patrick Creadon (Wordplay). Roadside Attractions.

FILM SYNOPSIS

I. O. U. S. A. examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United States and its citizens. As the Baby Boomer generation prepares to retire, will there even be any Social Security benefits left to collect? Throughout history, the American government has found it nearly impossible to spend only what has been raised through taxes. Wielding candid interviews with both average American taxpayers and government officials, Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay) helps demystify the nation's financial practices and policies. The film follows U. S. Comptroller General David Walker as he crisscrosses the country explaining America's unsustainable fiscal policies to its citizens. With surgical precision, Creadon interweaves archival footage and economic data to paint a vivid and alarming profile of America's current economic situation.

REVIEW

I'll admit to being naïve when it comes to Federal Fiscal Fiascos. But I'm always leery when a doomand- gloom filmmaker spends much of his screen time throwing spitballs at a Republican president in a year when the opposing team's theme is "we need change." That said, while I'm skeptical of the filmmaker's political agenda, I think I. O. U. S. A. is the most important film of the year. For the truth is, we need change.

The cause of Rome's decline, according to the film, was due to moral decay, military overexpansion, and financial irresponsibility. Other world-dominating nations have followed suit. And it appears that America is headed down the same self-destructive path. Alas, I don't see either side of the political aisle seriously addressing our economic woes. They're more concerned with getting elected. Of course, when that happens, all will be well.

Ultimately, the documentary blames all of us for indifference, greed and financial irresponsibility.

But as fellow critic Robert Butler of the Kansas City Star insightfully noted, though it's an important film, this is possibly the wrong venue for it. Who wants to go to a movie on Friday night only to learn that our country is soon to fall into oblivion? Bob's right. Shouldn't this project be advanced by way of television's major networks, as well as through the classrooms of higher and lower learning? If the film truly signals America's apocalypse, why isn't that being done? I don't know.

Rated PG Running Time: 97 min

Intended Audience: Older teens and above.