FREE Screening & Discussion: Disruption and Cost of Innovation 2026-01-18

“The rise of an innovative product or business, driven by imperfect, ambitious, ethically ambiguous people — based on true events.”

What does it really take to turn a great idea into a global phenomenon? We explore the hidden stories behind some world-changing products with these movies based on true events. All three films chosen for this event center on innovators, founders or deal-makers who reshaped industries through bold ideas — but with that innovation comes ethical tension, personal sacrifice, and the darker side of capitalism.

We explore three stories where where ambition, power, and ethics collide. From high-stakes deal-making and ruthless expansion to innovation undone by ego and competition, these films reveal that success is rarely just about brilliance — it’s about who controls the game.

Together, these films explore how ideas become empires, and the moral compromises, ambition, and human dynamics behind every major innovation.

Theme: Ambition, Disruption, and the Human Cost of Innovation

Facilitator: R

Movies to Vote:

1. Tetris (2023) - A high-stakes struggle to bring a groundbreaking game to the world, battling politics and global business maneuvering.
   Tetris shows us how a simple, joyful game became the center of global power struggles and legal warfare.
2. The Founder (2016) - The story of Ray Kroc transforming (and exploiting) the McDonald brothers’ idea into a global empire.
   The Founder asks uncomfortable questions about ownership and ethics as a small idea grows into a massive empire
3. BlackBerry (2023) - Rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone giant through innovation, mismanagement, and competition.
   An iconic Canadian success story from closer to home based out of Waterloo ON, BlackBerry captures both the thrill of innovation and the danger of believing success will last forever.

Event Venue: Liberty Village, Toronto, Canada (exact address to be shared before the event via email)

*Spots are limited, please cancel if you can't make it and give the spots to others. Any no-shows will not be refunded.

About Desolation Movie Club:

Welcome to the Desolation Movie Club! Join us for a thought-provoking experience through film screenings and discussion with a theme each time that is thoughtfully created. Here we only watch movies with meaning!

How it works:

Each time there will be a theme for the screening, with 3 movies as options that fit the theme.In the event, we watch trailers of all 3 movies then vote which one to watch in full. After the movie, we will discuss the plot, characters, themes, context, and whatever brings depth to the movie and makes it meaningful.

Agenda:

• Watch trailers and vote for movie
• Watch the voted movie in full
• Discuss & Social

*Tea will be prepared, bring your own mug

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