woah!! this is the worst. want to see that movie, though.
Bananas!*, a documentary by Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten, follows the legal proceedings of twelve Nicaraguan farm workers represented by California lawyer Juan Dominguez in suing Dole for exposure to the illegal pesticide DBCP. Activists estimate the chemical, known as “death’s dew” by local devastated communities, has killed over 1,000 people and injured 16,500 more. The lawsuit is the first time a multinational American company has been held legally accountable for treatment of its third-world workers, and supporters hope the case will open up the American legal system to hear such cases of exploitation.
Dole Food Company has since sued Gertten and the LA Film Festival where it was screened for defamation, causing sponsors to back out and the film to be pulled from the competition. It was screened in the Swedish Parliament last month due to the initiative of representatives Mats Johansson and Luciano Astudillo.
