General Information

Author/Creator

Gertten, Fredrik, director.

Language

English, Spanish.

Subtitles

English

Published

Sweden : WG Film ; Magic Hour Films, 2009.

Physical Description

DVD-ROM (80 min.)

Digital ver. identifier

HU_OSA_00004331

Contents/Summary

Summary

Filmmaker Fredrik Gertten follows the American-Cuban lawyer Juan Domínguez as he represents 12 workers at a Nicaraguan banana plantation in a unique lawsuit against their employer Dole Food. The workers accuse Dole of having caused their infertility through the use of pesticide DBCP to protect its banana crops in 1982. This chemical's proven harmful effects had led to the United States to prohibit its use five years earlier. Dole was well aware of this, but continued to expose its foreign employees to the pesticide. Duane Miller pleads the workers' case in court in a classic David and Goliath scenario, but this Goliath is not about to be felled by a single well-aimed rock. With great aplomb, Dole's lawyer tries to undermine the illiterate workers' case by characterizing them as alcoholics and liars. The events following Gertten's completion of the film and preparations for its release on the festival circuit are worthy of a documentary in themselves. Dole Food tried to prevent screening of the film by accusing Gertten and his producers of disseminating lies. Gertten claimed his right to freedom of expression, but that did not stop Dole from taking legal action. Only after the Swedish Parliament expressed concern about Dole's attempts to impose censorship did the fruit company withdraw its complaint.

Subjects

Genre

Documentary films

Bibliographic Information

Note

Coproduction: Denmark, Sweden. Verzio FF Submission

Duration: 01:20:00

Library Special Collection

Verzio Film Festival Submission

Holdings

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
DVD-ROM	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2727	Available	-	-
Digital film	OSA Film Library	FL Record 2727 (HU_OSA_00004331.mp4)	Available		Access Copy, MP4 format