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	...	Herself
Dave Morris	...	Himself
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	...	Himself (as Professor Campbell)
Sue Dibb	...	Herself - The Food Commission
Pip Donaghy	...	David Walker
Ian Flintoff	...	David Green
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Dr. Arnott
Dan Gallin	...	Himself - Intl Union of Food Workers
Stephen Gardner	...	Himself - Assistant Attorney General (as Stephen Gardener)
Geoffrey Giuliano	...	Himself (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

Details

Official Sites:

Spanner Films

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Клевета МакДональдс

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,821, 12 June 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,337, 26 June 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Spanner Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally released as a 52 minute film on TV and video in 1997; this extended 85 minute version came out in theaters in 2005 after the case had gone to the European Courts.

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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

Balanced?

First off, I love this movie. I think it has a great message and provides us inspiration to make change. The reason why I'm writing this review is in rebuttal towards an earlier comment who stated that he wished the movie was more balanced. With that, I can honestly say the guy didn't watch the movie.

First off, McDonald's has been in the media for 50+ years selling us junk. If you want to hear the other side of it, turn on your television to any channel and wait a few minutes. Or, go outside in any neighborhood in any state in any country and walk a block or two and you will run into a place where diabetics and future diabetics congregate under golden arches.