Germans disappointed by reunification, French yellow vests, British Brexiters... For years now the anger has been growing, often triggered by the question: “Where does my tax money go?”
In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the austerity policies that accompanied it all over Europe, popular "revolts" set the continent ablaze each in their own way. It revealed the growing mistrust between citizens and those who govern them. Tax is at the heart of these conflicts.
"No tax without sovereignty of the people". By reminding their elected representatives of this basic rule of the democratic game, these movements follow in the footsteps of the long history which has opposed since the Middle Ages, almost everywhere in Europe, the people to their rulers when it came to making them pay taxes. Shot in Germany, UK and France, this two-part film tells this tumultuous history.
Episode 1: From the Middle Ages to the 1970s
Episode 2: From the 1980s to present day
Direction: Xavier Villetard
Production: Point du Jour & Les films du Balibari for ARTE France