Set in the small town of Bedford Falls, the film follows George Bailey, who sacrifices his own ambitions to keep a community bank alive and protect local families from a predatory businessman. Facing ruin and despair, he is shown by an angel what the town would look like if he had never been born.

Use in class

This classic works well in finance, banking and ethics classes. It illustrates the social role of financial intermediaries, the contrast between community banking and extractive finance, and the non financial dimensions of value creation. It also opens discussion about moral hazard, systemic importance and what we expect from banks beyond shareholder returns.

Trailer