The Price of Sugar

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The Price of Sugar

Released Sep 26, 2007

1h 30m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

74%

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19 Reviews

77%

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250+ Ratings

In 1997, appalled by the plight of the up to 20,000 Haitians annually lured into laboring for low wages on sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic, Catholic priest Christopher Hartley begins advocating to improve their working conditions. As a missionary in a rural parish, Hartley offers medical care and organizes a strike. His efforts anger the wealthy plantation owners, who stoke the Dominicans' hatred against the Haitians they feel are taking their jobs.

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Anthony Kaufman

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Price of Sugar is designed to educate, outrage and finally spur viewers to action. That it does so with vibrant visual style and an engaging narrative makes it that rare consciousness-raising film that's not only good for you, but a joy to watch.

Nov 15, 2007

Full Review

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

These Haitian sugar slaves are starved, beaten, disappeared, malnourished, and lacking uncontaminated drinking water, even as other far more privileged foreigners frolic in the waters of the DR's tropical tourist paradise nearby.

Apr 18, 2009

Full Review

Andy Klein

Los Angeles CityBeat

... even those naturally sympathetic to the film's position may feel like they're taking their medicine.

Oct 21, 2007

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Chad Greene

Boxoffice Magazine

[A] no-frills doc, which isn't done any favors by Newman's monotone narration.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 28, 2007

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Audience Member

Makes you question the sugar you put in your coffee every day with such ease...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Muy informativo sobre la injusticia en la industria azucarera en RD

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent and so thoughtful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A well done documentary on the plight of Haitian sugar cane cutters in the Dominican Republic. For anyone who eats cane sugar you must see this film. The editing is a tad choppy and the film sometimes drags a bit even for a documentary and sometimes I'm "aware" the Father's on a bit of a soap box, but hey it's slavery...can one be to preachy about that?

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Excellent - interesting & very compelling. Really makes you think.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

companies like Equal Exchange have championed the importance of fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate but there are so many other items that are produced internationally by laborers who are being exploited constantly; this documentary is well done in exposing us to an item and two countries that never get any attention in US news: Haitians involved in the sugar cane industry in the Dominican Republic. Father Hartley is inspiring, and this is a must-see for anyone who cares about international human rights issues and wonders where the US gets a good portion of its sugar.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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Bill Haney

Director

Paul Newman

Narrator

Bill Haney

Writer

Peter Rhodes

Writer

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Synopsis

In 1997, appalled by the plight of the up to 20,000 Haitians annually lured into laboring for low wages on sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic, Catholic priest Christopher Hartley begins advocating to improve their working conditions. As a missionary in a rural parish, Hartley offers medical care and organizes a strike. His efforts anger the wealthy plantation owners, who stoke the Dominicans' hatred against the Haitians they feel are taking their jobs.

Director: Bill Haney
Screenwriter: Bill Haney, Peter Rhodes
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2007, Limited
Runtime: 1h 30m

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