TO CATCH A DOLLAR: MUHAMMAD YUNUS BANKS ON AMERICA – Sundance Movie Review

Today, I had the opportunity to watch the world premiere of one of the most profoundly moving documentary that I have ever seen, TO CATCH A DOLLAR: MUHAMMAD YUNUS BANKS ON AMERICA.

Before I tell you about the documentary, let me tell you about the man profiled in it, Muhammad Yunus.

Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank, the first bank ever to specialize solely in micro-loans aimed at women. The goal of the micro loan is to provide a small capital to poor women around the world so that they can start a business and generate revenue on their own. Started in 1976, Grameen Bank has since provided loans to millions of women all around the world. This documentary, To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America centers around the efforts of Grameen Bank opening their first branch in the United States, namely in Queens NY.

The story of how the first Grameen Bank is opened and how the first women are signed up to the program is just simply fascinating and inspiring. The primary strength of the doc is how well it highlights the specific individuals who are key to the process. There is Muhammad Yun himself, as he is traveling the world spreading the message of micro-finance. There is also Alethia Mendez, the fun and dedicated Center Manager Grameen America, who is in charge of recruiting, training and supporting the women who are entered in the program. Let us not forget the portrait of Elizabeth, the first customer of Grameen America as she goes through the joys and struggles of entrepreneurship.

The narrative of the documentary is tight and precise. It does an excellent job of fairly portraying the Grameen process and the people it affects. It also opens your eyes to the first viable solution to ending world poverty as we know it today. After seeing this documentary, poverty becomes this surmountable challenge that can potentially be fixed through programs such as the Grameen model. What we realize is that small amounts can provide the kind of fuel necessary to kick start someone’s future and literally lift them out of poverty.

All and all, I loved To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America. It is by far one of my favorite documentaries ever made and I watch a whole lot of them. Whenever this documentary comes out, I urge you to go watch it and to take everyone you know with you. If you are anything like me, To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America will change the way you see the world.

You can watch the trailer for the documentary below