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The Price of Sugar

Play trailer Poster for The Price of Sugar 2007 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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74% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 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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The Price of Sugar

Critics Reviews

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Ann Hornaday Washington Post 11/15/2007
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. Go to Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe 11/09/2007
2.5/4
It's been conceived and executed as an instrument of human rights and a tool of shame. But it's the political controversy that's at the heart of this movie -- the contempt that one poor country feels toward its somewhat poorer neighbor. Go to Full Review Walter V. Addiego San Francisco Chronicle 11/02/2007
3/4
In this compelling documentary, narrated by Paul Newman, Hartley comes off as a man of intense will, and he needs to be. Go to Full Review Prairie Miller NewsBlaze 04/18/2009
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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01/14/2012 Makes you question the sugar you put in your coffee every day with such ease... See more 01/31/2010 Muy informativo sobre la injusticia en la industria azucarera en RD See more 07/22/2009 Excellent and so thoughtful. See more 07/11/2009 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? See more 09/13/2008 Excellent - interesting & very compelling. Really makes you think. See more 08/31/2008 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. See more Read all reviews
The Price of Sugar

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Cast & Crew

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Bill Haney

Director

Paul Newman

Narrator

Bill Haney

Writer

Peter Rhodes

Writer

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The Price of Sugar

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Movie Info

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
Production Co
Uncommon Productions LLC
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 26, 2007, Limited
Runtime
1h 30m
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