Capital (2012)

Trader's Film Library #13 · Markets and trading in fiction. A bitter satire on power in big banks.

Original title: Le Capital · Type: film · Created by: Costa-Gavras · Usefulness for traders: ★★★☆☆

What it's about

Marc Tourneuil (Gad Elmaleh) unexpectedly becomes CEO of a big French bank. Caught between pressure from an American fund and his own ambitions, he quickly learns that only money and power count in this game.

What it has to do with markets

The film shows the world of big banks from the boardroom: shareholder pressure, takeovers, layoffs to boost the share price. Less trading, more of the mechanics of power in finance.

Lessons for traders

• a company's share price can become an end in itself, even at the company's expense
• pressure for short-term results leads to bad decisions
• understanding big players' motives helps you understand the market

What to watch out for

Political cinema from Costa-Gavras, more satire than realism.

Discussion

The discussion takes place in Hetman Capital Club (in Polish). Join the discussion in the Club →

Navigation

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The description outlines the plot without revealing the ending where possible (true stories have a known outcome). Educational content, not investment advice.