Both a great lens into part of the GFC and a spectacular cinematic piece. Tremendous scene.
Great movie though
Margin call is by far the best movie about the financial crisis of 2008 that I've ever seen. I was working in the biz at that time and it all just rang so true. 7 AM pre-market meetings, lots of folks crunching data, Wall Street people actually living in Brooklyn and so much more.
Sadly, the movie is so esoteric that it never had a mainstream success. Such a shame because it had great actors and a fantastic script.
You bet they do. But like all things the more money you have the better you get treated.
Small retail investor, your margin call is likely automatic with assets sold without your input to take the money.
large hedge fund. Tables of lawyers deciding how much you have to put up, at what time, and what can you move out of that bank before you pay.
Never read the book (http://www.knightmareonwallstreet.com/) but watched it happen in real time from the trade desk at a different firm.
You could also say it happens to small banks. If you fail some sort of FDIC testing, you're classified as at-risk and they force you to sell to a larger bank so as not to risk depositor funds.