Smejdi

Apr 18 2013 N/A 1h 18m
Documentary

Manipulation, coercion, humiliation, aggression. Hidden cameras captured the rough background of the seniors' demonstration events. What really happens on the popular free lunch tours? Practices that give you chills. Lies and deliberate manipulation, the sole purpose of which is to force defenseless old people to buy overpriced goods. Seniors pay exorbitant sums from their meager pensions for often low-quality products. Some of them worry that they will never go to any event again, others can't stand it and go again. What drives them? Curiosity? Loneliness? Or addiction?

Plot

Silvie Dymáková's raw documentary uncovers the manipulation, humiliation and pressure that exist behind the closed doors of "product demonstration excursions for seniors" in the Czech Republic. The sad heroes of her film show us the non-functional saucepans, unused vacuum cleaners, "wool" blankets and bio-lamps they bought during such excursions for tens or even hundreds of thousands of crowns... and that is the best-case scenario. In exchange for their ID cards, confiscated by sellers, many have signed loan contracts. Despite their shocking experiences, the elderly repeatedly take part in these events in a bid to escape their loneliness or because they can't say no to the offers. Dymáková succeeded in smuggling a hidden camera into product presentations and, with a psychologist and a lawyer, analyzed the high-pressure methods employed. Even while being completed, her documentary sparked a deserved uproar when it became clear that dozens of Czech firms were abusing seniors' inexperience, credulity and certain dependencies.

Written by

Silvie Dymáková, Romana Mazalová

Directed by

Silvie Dymáková

Production Countries

Czech Republic

Production Companies

Ceská televize, Produkce Treštíková, DSi studio

Languages

Ceský

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
104
Average Rating
7.5 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA