Director Astra Taylor's idiosyncratic, philosophical journey spans millennia and continents, from ancient Athens's groundbreaking experiment in self-government to capitalism's roots in medieval Italy, from modern-day Greece grappling with financial collapse and a mounting refugee crisis to the United States reckoning with its racist past and the growing gap between rich and poor.

A farewell to arms (1932, 75 min.): A wounded American soldier falls in love with his beautiful English nurse during World War I. Meet John Doe (1941, 117 min.): A genial homeless unemployed baseball pitcher is hoaxed into protesting against existing social evils as a newspaper circulation stunt. He pleas to the "little man" for brotherly love and democratic good will, and John Doe clubs are formed. Because of his simple sincerity, he becomes a national...