Unflattering film about Wal-Mart debuts at churches

Gannett News Service and Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

Wal-Mart's critics are borrowing from actor-director Mel Gibson's promotional playbook as they open a new front in their war on the retail Goliath.

Producers of a new documentary, "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price," will show the film at about 1,000 churches and other religious venues nationwide Sunday in a bid to force changes in Wal-Mart's employment and other practices.

The film, by the director of "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," will be shown at the Northwoods Universalist Unitarian Fellowship in Woodruff.

Movie times To view a list of all showings of "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price," go to http:walmartmovie.com. Showings in north central Wisconsin, according to the Web site: Marshfield • 2 p.m. Sunday, 1600 N. Hills Ave.; sponsored by Bruce Krawisz • 12:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County, 200 W. Fifth St.; sponsored by the university Woodruff • 6 p.m. Sunday at 8625 Peggy's Lane; sponsored by the Northwoods Universalist Unitarian Fellowship Stevens Point • 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Charles M. White Public Library, 1001 Main St. For more information, e-mail gbfurr@hotmail.com. • 7 p.m. Monday at the College of Professional Studies building in Room 116, sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Sociology Club Wausau • 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Plaza Hotel and Convention Center on 17th Avenue; The hotel has no record of this showing, and it is unknown who is sponsoring it.

The fellowship decided to show the film because "we are concerned about the effect that the corporation has on the world economy," said Terry Hoyt, fellowship president.

The fellowship is expecting about 75 people to attend the showing. The Woodruff-Minocqua area has one Wal-Mart, and the corporation may add a SuperWal-Mart there.

"We aren't trying to condemn Wal-Mart. We are encouraging all corporations to be responsible," Hoyt said.

The Wal-Mart film features interviews with company employees, small-business owners, teachers and others who sharply criticize the corporation with charges of low wages, skimpy health benefits and a poor environmental record.

"Those are moral questions," Producer Robert Greenwald said. "They're questions of who we are as a people, who we are as a country."
Greenwald hopes for success similar to what Gibson had last year in building grass-roots support through churches for his blockbuster, "The Passion of the Christ."
Others, such as producers of "Left Behind: World at War," also sought promotional help from churches. That film, about those left on Earth after the biblical rapture, was shown last month in 3,200 churches.

Consumers may be receptive. Moral values ranked No. 4 among top noneconomic worries in a Gallup Poll this month.

Wal-Mart leaders have not seen the film, said spokeswoman Christi Gallagher. But, she said, "His video is simply unabashed propaganda."
Still, the retailer is promoting a competing documentary, "Why Wal-Mart Works: And Why That Makes Some People C-r-a-z-y," about working families who benefit from the company. Brothers Ron and Robert Galloway financed the $85,000 film, with Wal-Mart's limited cooperation. It is due out Nov. 15 on DVD at major retailers.

Greenwald's Brave New Films estimates 40,000 people will view its film in churches and other religious venues after its limited theatrical release next week in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Screenings are scheduled the following week at colleges, including at the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County and the UW-Stevens Point.

Melissa Lake, communications director at UW-M/WC, said the university decided to show the film as part of its study theme this year called "affluenza."