Investigative Film Week at City University
Wondering what’s behind the piece of pork meat you buy at the supermarket? Go watch “Pig Business,” a documentary by filmmaker and activist Tracy Worcester.
Getting down and dirty in "Pig Business." Photo Credit: London International Documentary Festival
The Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) film week opened with Worcester’s documentary on Tuesday night at City University. Six documentaries tackling different issues and raising a variety of questions will be screened during the week.
Making “Pig Business” was not an easy task for Worcester. It was hell, in fact! She travelled to Poland, the US and Brazil to investigate the effects of the industrialisation of pig-farming, only to find that the animals live in appalling conditions, the health of plant-workers is worsening, the improper dispose of waste has caused damage to the environment and small farmers have been forced to leave their land.
The film, which was supported by Channel 4, faced libel and lobotomisation. Worcester outlined the cuts she had to make to be able to show it. Still, the documentary is powerful and brings across the director’s message about the external costs of giant food companies policies.
“The pig business is like a microcosm of the general industry,” Worcester said after the screening.
The issue is political as well. Worcester has showed this documentary to 30 MPs last week and delivered 600 DVDs to the House of Commons. “In the end, though, it’s up to the people. We must change our eating habits,” she added.
If you’re still wondering why you should bother to change your food habits, just have a look at “Pig Business.” The un-lobotomised version is available on DVD for £5, whereas the edited one is available on YouTube.
On Wednesday, the CIJ showed pluri-awarded BBC Panorama: Undercover Nurse, a three-month investigation in an acute medical ward in a failing hospital.
On Thursday there will be the UK premiere of Afghanistan: On the Dollar Trail, a documentary by French investigative reporter Paul Moreira which will expose the corruption behind the managing of aid money in troubled Afghanistan. For an interview, click here.
On Friday it comes to another UK premiere and multi-award winner: Flip the Coin: The Bitter Taste of Tea, a documentary questioning the actual fairness of the Fairtrade brand.
And finally on Saturday a double treat: at 3 pm The Yes Men fix the World, featuring Igor Vamos, a.k.a. Mike Bonanno, a multimedia artist whose hobby is posing as multinational top executive. He will show how investigative reporting can be fun.
And at 6:30 pm another UK premiere: it’s Günter Wallraff: Black on White. The documentary features German investigative journalist Günter Wallraff travelling across Germany. Make-up covered, he will pose as a black immigrant to expose how they are treated. For an interview, click here.
All the screenings take place at the Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre, City University, at 6:30 pm. Tickets are £5 full price, £4 concessions.
Find out more about CIJ Film Week here.
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