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Wal-Mart Nation is an hour long, documentary journey through the complex and fascinating world of the international anti-Wal-Mart movement.
Wal-Mart’s emergence as a global corporate force triggered an unprecedented political backlash. No corporation has ever faced such a dedicated army of activists, agitators and organizers. Wal-Mart has single-handedly galvanized a progressive, grass roots and labour coalition of activists determined to roll back the tide of corporate power and domination. This is a generation baptized by the fire of anti-globalization protest. This is the Wal-Mart Nation. Here are their stories.
Carolyn is an unlikely anti-Wal-Mart activist. The former Miss America (1992) is a beauty queen turned feminist activist. She’s also a Reagan Republican and anti-abortion crusader. Sapp founded Wal-Mart Versus Women as a vehicle to publicize the largest civil rights class action suit in US history.
Anna Liu is a 23 year old, Chinese Canadian union activist determined to unionize Canadian Wal-Mart workers. Despite her militancy, Anna tells us that before attending university she scarcely knew what a union was. We follow Anna and her cadres as they “gate crash” Wal-Mart stores in a desperate attempt to sign up members.
Forbes magazine calls Al Norman, Wal-Mart’s number one enemy. Norman, also known as the “Sprawlbuster” is the dean of anti-Wal-Mart activists. Ten years ago the well-connected Democratic Party activist successfully prevented Wal-Mart from building a store in his Massachusetts hometown. His surprising victory spawned the anti-Wal-Mart movement.
Guelph, Ontario is the only North American city of its size in without a Wal-Mart. Guelph is the site of the longest running anti-Wal-Mart battle. British ex-pat environmentalist Ben Bennett wants to keep it that way. Bennett is the leader of a ten-year long battle to keep Wal-Mart out of Guelph, Ontario. But Bennett is now facing his final battle in this decade long war.
These stories are set against the colourful backdrop of the Wal-Mart annual general meeting. Here, Wal-Mart executives, employees, and shareholders gather for a weeklong celebration of the world’s most successful company. They argue that Wal-Mart is a success story to be celebrated, not condemned.
The filmmakers examine Wal-Mart’s place in the broader political and economic context and how the company has created a new template for 21st century, post-industrial, global capitalism. Finally, we explore the efficacy of anti-corporate protest and dissent. What kind of impact can this type of activism possibly have?
Wal-Mart Nation is a first person journey through a year in life of the anti-Wal-Mart movement. The filmmakers blend actuality footage, interviews, archival film and photos, text and graphics in a provocative, engaging and often-humourous point of view documentary
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Independent productions include Campaign; The Making of a Candidate (co production with the National Film Board of Canada) and Xanadu: In Search of Domestic Perfection, both for CBC Newsworld. Other films include Make Some Noise, (winner best Canadian short film, Toronto International Film Festival), and Rumours of War.
As a freelance director, writer and segment producer Andrew has written and directed documentaries and factual programs for most major Canadian broadcasters including CBC, History, Discovery Channel, Vision TV, TV Ontario, Life Channel and Canwest Global.
Andrew Munger – Director’s Filmography
Wal-Mart Nation - 60 Minutes, 2007
Campaign: The Making of a Candidate - 57 Minutes, 2005
Trick of the Trade - 45 Minutes – 2003
Teaching Hate - 45 Minutes – 2001
Xanadu: In Search of Domestic Perfection - 45 Minutes, 1997
Make Some Noise - 58 Minutes, 1994
Say "Hell No" to offshoring and imports.
Keep North America Strong
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The Environmentalist - Ben Bennett
The Organizer - Anna Liu
Anna Liu is a young Chinese Canadian woman who grew up in a totally non-political household. Like Carolyn Sapp, she’s another unlikely activist. She wasn’t exposed to labour issues until she attended university. Working as a waitress at the unionized Swiss Chalet restaurants introduced her to organized labour. It helped pay her tuition and it also radicalized her. She became shop steward. After graduation she moved on to full time union organizing.
Anna is a front line union activist for the Canadian branch of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Wal-Mart’s number one nemesis.. Liu’s goal is to organize Canadian Wal-Mart workers
We follow Anna as she spearheads in store interventions at several Toronto area Wal-Mart stores. The actions straddle the line of legality, but help dramatically publicize the union cause both to shoppers and the store workers. Our cameras have unique, exclusive access to the inside of a union intervention.
The Sprawl-buster - Al Norman
When you want to fight Wal Mart, whom do you call? Al Norman, the sprawl buster. Norman successfully beat back Wal-Mart in his Massachusetts hometown. Norman’s victory launched the anti-Wal-Mart movement. His group Sprawl busters is an international clearinghouse for anti -Wal-Mart activism The fifty three year old former journalist, tagged Wal Mart’s public enemy number one by Forbes Magazine, has been fighting Wal-Mart for fifteen years and is credited with helping 120 communities keep out Wal-Mart. Norman runs a one-man operation from a cramped home office in leafy Greenfield, Massachusetts, using modern communication technologies as an effective organizing tool.
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