2007/02/19
Wal-Mart Film in Ellenville, Feb 23
WERD (Wawarsing-Ellenville for Responsible Development) is re-showing the documentary film "Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price" at the Ellenville Public Library Community Room on Friday, February 23rd at 7:00 PM. The showing is FREE, and the film is about an hour and a half long, with a brief question and answer period afterwards. Refreshments will be available.
The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath. A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide healthcare for her two small children. A Missouri family loses its business after Wal-Mart is given over $2 million to open its doors down the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart pulls out and relocates just outside the city limits. A community in California unites, takes on the giant, and wins!
Robert Greenwald's film uncovers a retail giant's assault on families and American values. From the director:
"We found heartbreaking stories from people who worked at Wal-Mart, but many of them were just too frightened to appear on camera. We found businesses run out of the country, with CEOs who were terrified of talking with us on or off camera because of retaliation by Wal-Mart. We had camera crews arrive at homes where folks had agreed to talk with us only to be turned away because they had since thought better of angering Wal-Mart. When we went public with the film, one of the first things I asked was a pledge from Wal-Mart not to fire anyone who cooperated with us on the film. They refused; the intimidation and fear continues.
The film shines a light on the problem, connects the dots, makes what is abstract personal and tells a story. The film is not the solution; that comes from the good people around the country who use the power of democracy to exercise their opinions, views, and activism in numerous ways. Wal-Mart is a big corporate problem, it will not be fixed by one film or one action, but the film will be a step towards the vital debate, discussion and actions we need to begin to get the problem front and center."
"WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price" takes you behind the hype and into the real lives of workers and their families, business owners and their communities, in an extraordinary journey that will challenge the way you think, feel... and shop.
For more information, go to http://w-e-r-d.org or the blog at http://info.w-e-r-d.org or contact:
(A further showing of the film is scheduled at the Cragsmoor Library on Saturday, March 3rd, at 5:00 pm.)
