Directing: Fredrik Gertten Editing: Jesper Osmund, Benjamin Binderup
Production: Margarete Jangård
Country: Svezia
Runtime: 01 hr : 28 min : 00 sec
Italian Premiere
Synopsis
In April 2009, Swedish filmmakers Fredrik Gertten and Margarete Jangård learned that the world premiere of "Bananas!" —their documentary about a lawsuit against the Dole Food Company—would take place at a major film festival in Los Angeles. Within weeks, they were embroiled in a legal and public-relations battle to save their premiere, their film, their reputations, and their freedom of speech.
While censorship is, sadly, nothing new, its insidious power gains startling immediacy by playing out in front of Gertten's camera. The filmmakers find themselves painted as villains due to Dole's shrewd PR moves—even before their film has been screened. Gertten takes the offensive, filing a countersuit and media campaign of his own to confront Dole’s overgrown-schoolyard-bully tactics.
As demonstrated over the past several months in actions held around the globe, corporations are being taken to task for their disproportionate political and financial influence. "Big Boys gone Bananas!" is a telling case study of the power of individuals to fight back.
Director
Fredrik Gertten
Fredrik Gertten is an award winning director and journalist based in Malmö, Sweden.
In 1994 he founded the production company WG Film. Before he worked as a foreign correspondent and columnist for radio, TV and press in Africa, Latin America, Asia and around Europe. Today he combines film making with a role as a creative producer on WG Film - famous for local stories with a global understanding, with several films catching the identity and transformation of his hometown. Featuring international stars like footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic in "True Blue - The way back" and architect Santiago Calatrava in "The Socalist, the Architect and the Twister Tower", among others. Dole Food company made his film "Bananas!" controversial by suing the company, producer and director. The fight for the film and freedom of speech won international recognition. In Sweden awarded with several prices including the Anna Politkovskaya freedom of speech award.
