Paris-based The Party Film Sales, attached to Oscar-nominated “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and Cannes Un Certain Regard winner “Congo Boy,” has inked multiple deals on the French documentary “Tax Me (If You Can),” helmed by Thomas Lafarge (“The World According to Amazon,” “In the Murky Waters of BNP Paribas”).
Shopped as a 52 minute-feature or a two-parter of 45 minutes, “Tax Me (If You Can!)” is the latest dive into the financial clout of the power-players of this world from investigative journalist and filmmaker Thomas Lafarge, co-director with Adrien Pinon of “The World According to Amazon” and “In the Murky Water of BNP Paribas” with Xavier Harel.
In his new film, the 38-year-old helmer turns on the power of money and potential ways of changing the rules of the games. He investigates both how the ultra-rich have seen their fortunes soar in the last 20 years, while the “trickle-down” economics theory promoted by U.S. economist Arthur Laffer has been gaining momentum as has the emerging “tax the rich” movement led by French economist Gabriel Zucman and backed by a handful of millionaires including Abigail Disney.
However, getting the uber-rich to actually open up about their wealth was the biggest challenge.
“People often think that wealthy French people have a problem talking about money. But in reality, wealthy people all over the world have a problem talking about money. Even those who want to pay more taxes. They know they’re exposing themselves to risks, and they’re very cautious,” Lafarge said. With this film, De Araujo hopes issues such as inequality, the concentration of wealth, and the debate around fair taxation of the ultra-rich “will have a strong global resonance.”
“Tax Me (If You Can!)” was produced by Little Big Story (“Nicole Kidman, Eyes Wide Open,” “Welded Together”) in co-production with Arte France, in association with Public Sénat, and support from the CNC, PROCIREP, Société des Producteurs, ANGOA, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
The Unifrance Rendez-Vous market runs Sept-7-10 in Le Havre, Normandy.
