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School of Democracy
Start date: Jul 12, 2014, End date: Jan 13, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

After decades of suffering from a dysfunctional government and Berlusconi’s rule, Italy is on the verge of collapse. Enter Italian comedian, Beppe Grillo, and his protest movement, Movimento, who in spring 2013 win 25% of the vote for Parliament. The 163 new Movimento-senators are ordinary, yet angry people, who have set out to revolutionize the system from within, while Grillo through his blog - the third most read in the world – attempts to install direct democracy with voter participation and frequent on-line referendums.Upon entering Parliament, a tumultuous journey begins for the inexperienced senators. It is not easy to transform ideals and campaign slogans into political practice. But they win a major victory, when Berlusconi through their intervention - and after countless failed attempts in earlier years - is convicted for tax evasion and evicted from Parliament.Hopes of a purer democracy fade, as the attempt to fight a sick and corrupt political culture develops into an internal power struggle. Grillo uses his blog as a public pillory if anybody within Movimento dare criticize him. Several senators are expelled, others choose to leave, as Grillo's tactics become questionable. Through Movimento, the film depicts the on-going radical shift in the balance between ’the people’ and ’the political power’ – a shift that has already had considerable influence on our Western democracies and which has entailed a significant rise of populist parties all over Europe. The display of absolute power and corruption, that ’the people’ in Italy are up against, is so grotesque, that we cannot but sympathize with their mission to change things and their ethical, pragmatic, and ideological dilemmas: How do you practice democracy? Where to draw the line between necessary political compromises and indispensable ideals and election pledges? Can you achieve anything if you don't play along? Can you make radical changes if you do?

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