McLibel (2005)

McLibel is the story of two ordinary people who humiliated McDonald's in the biggest corporate PR disaster in history.

Directors:

Ken Loach, Franny Armstrong

Stars:

Helen Steel, Dave Morris, Bruce Alexander

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Helen Steel	...	Self
Dave Morris	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Alexander	...	Richard Rampton QC
Anita Anand	...	Voiceover (voice)
Peter Armstrong	...	Voiceover (voice)
Chris Brierley	...	Voiceover (voice)
Rhona Cameron	...	Voiceover (voice)
T. Colin Campbell	...	Self (as Professor Campbell)
Sue Dibb	...	Self - The Food Commission
Pip Donaghy	...	David Walker
Ian Flintoff	...	David Green
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Dr. Arnott
Dan Gallin	...	Self - Intl Union of Food Workers
Stephen Gardner	...	Self - Assistant Attorney General (as Stephen Gardener)
Geoffrey Giuliano	...	Self (as Geoff Guiliano)

Storyline

McDonald's loved using the UK libel laws to suppress criticism. Major media organisations like the BBC and The Guardian crumbled and apologised. But then they sued gardener Helen Steel and postman Dave Morris. In the longest trial in English legal history, the "McLibel Two" represented themselves against McDonald's £10 million legal team. Every aspect of the corporation's business was cross-examined: from junk food and McJobs, to animal cruelty, environmental damage and advertising to children. Outside the courtroom, Dave brought up his young son alone and Helen supported herself working nights in a bar. McDonald's tried every trick in the book against them. Legal manoeuvres. A visit from Ronald McDonald. Top executives flying to London for secret settlement negotiations. Even spies. Seven years later, in February 2005, the marathon legal battle finally concluded at the European Court of Human Rights. And the result took everyone by surprise - especially the British Government. ...

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Plot Keywords:

capitalism | brainwashing | legal case | advertisement | court case | 

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Taglines:

The postman and the gardener who took on McDonald's

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original case lasted nearly ten years which, according to the BBC, made it the longest-running libel case in English history.

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Quotes

Journalist: What about the finding that McDonalds targets children?
Lawyer: I don't recall that.

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Connections

Edited from McLibel: Two Worlds Collide (1998)

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Soundtracks

Rubber Knife
Written, performed & produced by Guy Jackson

User Reviews

So one sided it's propaganda

McLibel is a really interesting documentary about 2 people that were activists who were sued by McDonalds for libel. The movie spans 15 years and the lives of the 2 activists who wouldn't apologize to McDonalds. It's not really about a personal attack on McDonald's per say, it's more about the free speech and libel laws in Britain. While I find the movie engaging and the story a true David Vs. Goliath story is one that be told, but it is so one sided that it is frustrating. I understand how the film is against Multi-National corporations and their practices, but it's not fair to have them not have a voice, to allow McDonalds to share their side of the story. Many of the interviews seem staged along with the news reports and the reenactments of the court room scenes are awkward and poorly done. I think it's a landmark case and one that has all the makings of a great documentary, but it's so biased and subjective, all of its power is muted.

Details

Official Sites:

Spanner Films

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Клевета МакДональдс

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,821, 12 June 2005

Gross USA:

$4,337

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,234

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spanner Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1