BANANAS!*, Fredrik Gertten’s film about the struggle of Latin American farm workers, drew such a backlash from Dole Fruit and their lawyers that “supporters” of the arts disowned it and called it “irresponsible” for fear of reprisal.
Gertten joins BYOD to talk about the daunting task of facing a multi-national corporation with only a small team of dedicated filmmakers, and the extent that Dole has gone to slander him in the media and artistic community. The struggle has been documented in his new film, “Big Boys Gone Bananas,” and we get deep into the rewards and enormous difficulty of making a truthful film about big dirty business.

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 filmmaking 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 prizes including the Anna Politkovskaya freedom of speech award.