Screening – Bananas!*

We are extremely pleased to be showing Bananas!* following their freedom of speech victory in the courts against Dole. In December 2010 a Los Angeles judge awarded $200k as punishment to Dole for filing a defamation lawsuit against the filmmakers.

Bananas!* tells the shocking story of Juan “Accidentes” Domingue, a lawyer hired by twelve banana workers to prosecute their employer, Dole Foods, for using a pesticide known to cause sterility. Unbeknownst to them, the Dole workers have been exposed to lethal levels of the chemical which has finally claimed one life too many.

In a David and Goliath scenario, Domingue and the workers take on one of the world’s largest food companies; the first time a group of third world workers has tackled a multinational conglomerate in a U.S. Court. With implications of reform for the worldwide food industry, Bananas!* exposes what really happens to bring food to our tables, and at ultimately what cost for workers around the world.

87 mins
Directed by Fredrik Gertten
2009