Sugar: The Rules of the Game

Synopsis

This film examines the complex world of international commerce by looking at the major players in the sugar industry - European and African farmers, major sugar production companies on both continents, experts and officials. The report shows how decisions made at distant international meetings affect the lives of individuals.

Antonio Maolela cuts sugar cane on a plantation in Mozambique. He earns about two euros a day working from dawn til dusk. Honorio Valdunciel is a farmer from Zamora, Spain whose main source of income comes from growing sugar beet. Though he makes a decent income, it requires hard work and much investment. The future of both men is tied to the controversial price of sugar in world markets. Sugar prices in the European Union and the U.S. are highly protected by tariffs which block competition. Their internal price of sugar is three times higher than international market prices because beet sugar is much more expensive than cane sugar.

Paradoxically, Europe is the world’s biggest exporter of sugar because of subsidies. This lowers world market prices and makes things even harder for more efficient Third World producers. Many southern countries, organisations and NGOs have publicly denounced what they see as unfair international trade rules which favour the rich.

Language

English

Country

Spain

Year of production

2004

Subjects

Agriculture; Economics; Geography

Keywords

agricultural economics; economic geography; international trade; sugar production

Credits

Director

Meritxell Ribas

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 1

Price

$295.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

33 minutes

Year

2008

Production Company

Name

Televisio de Catalunya

Distributor

Name

Filmakers Library

Email

info@filmakers.com

Web

http://www.filmakers.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

+1 212 808 4980

Fax

+1 212 808 4983

Address

124 East 40th Street
New York
NY 10016
USA

Notes

A well-established distributor of issue-oriented documentaries on social science and arts-related topics, made by American independents as well as filmmakers from all over the world. Sale on video or DVD.