Shadow World is a hard-hitting documentary film that exposes the corruption and exploitation that lies at the heart of the global arms trade. The film is based on the book 'The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade' by Andrew Feinstein, who also co-wrote and narrated the documentary. The film takes a critical look at the lucrative and often sinister world of arms dealing, revealing the network of politicians, military officials, arms dealers and lobbyists who have profited from wars, civil conflict and other global crises. It explores how the arms trade perpetuates and fuels conflicts, and how it undermines democracy and human rights around the world.
Featuring interviews with insiders and experts in the field, Shadow World delves into the different aspects of the arms trade, from the manufacturing and sale of weapons to the political lobbying and government procurement that facilitates it. It exposes the close links between the arms industry and politics, and highlights the revolving door of defence industry executives and government officials.
The film also examines the role of banks and financial institutions in the arms trade, exposing the dirty money that flows through the system and the complicity of some of the world's biggest financial institutions in facilitating the sale of weapons to repressive regimes and conflict zones.
Shadow World presents a shocking and sobering account of the consequences of the arms trade, including the impact on people's lives in conflict zones, the erosion of democratic values, and the enormous financial costs of war. It challenges viewers to question the morality and legality of the arms trade and to demand greater transparency and accountability from their governments and financial institutions.
Overall, Shadow World is a must-watch for anyone interested in the complex web of politics and finance that underpins the global arms trade. It is a powerful indictment of a system that perpetuates violence and inequality around the world, and a call to action for individuals, governments and institutions to break the cycle of violence and corruption.
Shadow World is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.