BANANAS!*

Juan “Accidentes” Dominguez is on his biggest case ever. On behalf of twelve Nicaraguan banana workers he is tackling Dole Food Co. in a ground-breaking legal battle for their use of a banned pesticide that sterilized workers. Can he beat the giant, or will the corporation get away with it? In the suspenseful documentary BANANAS!*, filmmaker Fredrik Gertten sheds new light on the global politics of food.

Steve Condie is the lawyer representing the banana workers in the ongoing Tellez vs. Dole case. Fredrik Gertten met him this summer (2010) in Los Angeles inside LA Superiour Court and discussed what’s happening next in the case.

Some nice dudes from the streetwear collective Impala, helped us spead the message that BANANAS!* was opening on cinemas in Sweden in October 2009. This is the result on video, in a faster, more effective motion. Although it was good in real-time too. Enjoy!

Thanks to:
Artist: Dan Bengtsson
Camera: Anja Holmström
Editor: Emma Svensson

A film from the panel after the second screening at the LA Film Festival. Look out, in the end Juan Dominguez’s brother appears.

In the film you see:
– Michael Donaldson, legal advicer to the festival and panel moderator.
– Fredrik Gertten, filmmaker.
– Eddie Schmidt, Board President of the International Documentary Association (IDA)
– Audience, no name
– Audience: Carlos M. Dominguez, the brother of Juan Dominguez.

Before the screening of BANANAS!* on June 20, the executive director of Film Independent, Dawn Hudson, read a statement why the film was removed from competition. BANANAS!* director Fredrik Gertten then held a speech about the importance of free speech and the balance between different voices. This video shows the tense last minutes just before the screening.

Interview with Fredrik Gertten, director of BANANAS!*

Part 1 of 3:
– What is BANANAS!*
– How did you first hear about this story?
– When shooting, how much time did you spend in Nicaragua vs Los Angeles?

Interview by Orvar Säfström

Interview with Fredrik Gertten, director of BANANAS!*

Part 2 of 3:
– How do you create “the drama” in a film like this?
– How important is the character Juan Dominguez for this film?

Interview by Orvar Säfström