Bananas!*
| Bananas!* | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Fredrik Gertten |
| Produced by | Lars Bildt Jade Fox Fredrik Gertten Marta Clarissa Hernandez Margarete Jangård Lise Lense-Møller Bart Simpson |
| Starring | See below |
| Music by | Nathan Larson |
| Cinematography | Joseph Aguirre Frank Pineda |
| Editing by | Jesper Osmund |
| Release date(s) | 20 June 2009 |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | English |
Bananas!* is a 2009 Swedish documentary directed by Fredrik Gertten about a conflict between the Dole Food Company and banana plantation workers in Nicaragua over alleged cases of sterility caused by the pesticide DBCP.
The film was criticized by Dole for containing "patent falsehoods", something which they have been unable to prove. After a screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2009, Gertten was sued for defamation by Dole on July 8. The lawsuit was preceded by threats of legal action from Dole aimed against the LA Film Festival, which resulted in sponsors pulling support and that the film was removed from competition. Dole dropped their lawsuit against Fredrik Gertten and Bananas!*, on the 15th of October 2009.
In September 2009, the Swedish parliament members Mats Johansson (M) and Luciano Astudillo (S) took the initiative of displaying the movie in the Parliament of Sweden, this being its premiere in Sweden.
In late 2010 a court in Los Angeles decided in favor of the movie crew, making it possible to release the film in the USA.[1] A judge awarded the filmmakers nearly $200,000 in fees and costs.[2]
In 2011, Gertten directed the film Big Boys Gone Bananas!* about how the company was sued by Dole.[3]
[edit] Cast
- Byron Rosales Romero as Himself
- Juan J. Dominguez as Himself
- Duane Miller as Himself
- Rick McKnight as Himself
- David Delorenzo as Himself
- Mercedes Del Carmen Romero as Herself
[edit] References
- ^ "Filmen ”Bananas” vann Dole-rättegång" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. 29 November 2010. http://www.svd.se/kultur/filmen-bananas-vann-dole-rattegang_5750323.svd. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ Dole Food hit with fees for suing directors of banana plantation documentary
- ^ Sigander, Miranda (2 December 2011). "Revansch på Sundance för Gertten" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/film-tv/revansch-pa-sundance-for-gertten. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
[edit] External links
- News
- Dole sues 'Bananas!' filmmaker, alleges defamation, Yahoo News. 9 July 2009.
- Dole Sues Bananas! Filmmaker, Businessweek. 9 July 2009.
- Dole sues "Bananas" documentary maker, Reuters. 8 July 2009.
- (Swedish) Bananjätte stämmer svensk filmare, Dagens Nyheter. 9 July 2009.
- (Swedish) "Bananas!*" får premiär i riksdagen, Dagens Nyheter. 18 September 2009.
- (Swedish) Dole drar tillbaka stämningen mot "Bananas!*", Dagens Nyheter. 15 October 2009.
