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"Power Trip" is a powerful documentary film that was released in 2003. The movie is a detailed exploration of an interesting topic: the complex relationship between multinational corporations and small communities in the post-Soviet era. The film follows the story of an American company, AES, which purchases Georgia's electricity distribution network after the country's independence from the Soviet Union. AES comes with a mission to provide reliable and affordable electricity to Georgians, but things don't quite go according to plan.

The film is set in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital city, in 1999, and the story is told through the eyes of the director, Paul Devlin. Devlin introduces us to the AES team, including the CEO, Dennis Bakke, and the chief of the Georgian distribution company, Piers Lewis. The company's employees seem genuinely passionate about their work and their mission in Georgia, and the movie does a fantastic job of capturing the energy and excitement of the team as they embark on their ambitious project.

However, the team soon discovers that the complexities of running a power grid are far greater than they anticipated. Power outages are rampant, and the country's infrastructure is in a sorry state. The movie does an excellent job of documenting AES's struggles to restore order to the electricity grid, including their decision to increase prices to cover the cost of upgrading the network.

The documentary also features local residents, whose views on AES's mission and impact on the community are mixed. While some are cautiously optimistic, many are deeply suspicious of the company's intentions, and they express their concerns in various ways. Some openly protest against the price hikes, while others collude with corrupt officials to sabotage the company's plans.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its portrayal of the tensions between the AES team and the local Georgia population. As AES attempts to modernize the electricity grid, create new jobs, and promote local development, they clash with local attitudes and beliefs about work, competition, and power. In many ways, the movie is a fascinating exploration of the cultural differences between the two groups.

The film also highlights the complexity of multinational corporations' impact on small communities. On one hand, AES is a company with a clear mission and genuine desire to do good. On the other hand, they are outsiders with little understanding of Georgia's history and culture. As AES tries to impose its vision, it faces many obstacles and creates new problems that the team must overcome.

Overall, "Power Trip" is an engrossing documentary that explores the complex relationship between multinational corporations and small communities. The movie does an excellent job of introducing viewers to the key players and exploring the cultural and political issues at stake. The film's pacing is strong, and it never feels slow or tedious. Instead, it manages to balance the larger themes with an engaging and often humanizing narrative. Anyone interested in the intersection of business and culture should find "Power Trip" an entertaining and thought-provoking movie.

Power Trip is a 2003 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 75.