2008 Woodie Awards
Film at Out North questions Wal-Mart's practices
Kasandra Brown
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As more and more Wal-Mart stores are built, including the superstore that may be in Anchorage's future, questions regarding the effects of the world's largest retailer on American communities are becoming more frequent.
Film director Robert Greenwald has created a feature-length documentary recording the stories of those who oppose Wal-Mart's practices. The movie, entitled "Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price," will show at Out North, Feb. 2 with free admission. It is intended to address Wal-Mart's problems by documenting the personal stories of some of those negatively affected by the Wal-Mart Corporation.
The movie has inspired entire blogs dedicated to the discussion of the pros and cons of the company founded by Sam Walton in 1962. With its $285.2 billion in worldwide sales in 2005, it is the largest company in the world, and employed 1.3 million Americans in 2005. With such an impressive resume, it is no surprise that Wal-Mart is starting to receive public attention regarding its policies.
One of the major concerns about Wal-Mart is that, as a private employer, it goes unchecked when it comes to its treatment of employees. Another is the criticism that the corporation has a negative influence on American society. The company's laundry list is expansive, and includes low wages, unfair healthcare policies, opposition to unions, policies regarding overseas employment, employment of illegal aliens, the diversity of its workplace and the prevalence of foreign products on its shelves.
The movie, which condemns Wal-Mart's treatment of its employees, was inspired by Greenwald's neighbor. In the director's introduction posted on the Web, Greenwald explains why he made the movie:
"A neighbor of mine, who had some health issues, was hired at Wal-Mart. As we were talking about it, I expressed my relief that he would now have health insurance. He replied that no, unfortunately the coverage offered at Wal-Mart was so expensive and had so many requirements, he couldn't afford it and might not qualify even if he could pay," Greenwald said. "Impossible, I thought."
After much research, Greenwald had enough material for a movie that would present similar stories from people who felt they too were mistreated by Wal-Mart.
The effects of Wal-Mart on the communities discussed in the movie relate to our own community here in Anchorage. Since the announcement that Wal-Mart was planning to build a new store in Muldoon, many of the area's residents expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the prospective store, as well as the social implications that may accompany their new neighbor.
The Northeast Community Council voted Jan. 19 to oppose a city land-use zoning change that Wal-Mart needs to build both a large discount store and a Sam's Club warehouse store in the neighborhood. The first resolution voiced a concern about how the air quality would be affected by the increase of cars and traffic congestion that a new Wal-Mart would introduce to the area. The second resolution included social aspects of the Wal-Mart Corperation such as its anti-union policies.
The chair of the Northeast Community Council, Bob Roses, has taken a neutral position in regards to Wal-Mart but said Greenwald's film is not a fact-based documentary.
"I saw things in the movie that were inaccurate," Roses said.
For example, the movie shows an emotional story of family-owned hardware store going out of business implying that it had to close its doors because of the new Wal-Mart in Middlefield, Ohio. Byron York, an investigative reporter from National Review, went back to interview the hardware store owner. York reported that the store went out of business 3 months before Wal-Mart moved in.
Out North is a contemporary art house that hosts an array of artistic work, much of which is considered controversial. Out North co-director Gene Dugan organized the film's screening.
"Anyone who spends money at Wal-Mart should see where their money is going," Dugan said.
"Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Price," is receiving national recognition. Rob Reiner, movie director and reviewer for the Huffington Post, gave this review:
"The free market functions effectively only when consumers have all the facts. A brilliant new film by Robert Greenwald tells the real story of the corrosive effects that Wal-Mart wreaks upon the communities in which it operates and the men and women it employs."