Watch The Price of Sugar

The Price of Sugar, directed by Bill Haney, is a documentary-style drama released in 2007. The film is set in the Dominican Republic, where the price of sugar is a significant part of the country's economy. It reveals the hidden world of sugar plantations owned by wealthy landowners, where the working conditions of laborers are inhumane.

The story focuses on the struggles of the Haitian laborers and their fight for justice. They work on the sugar plantations owned by the Vicini family, who control the vast sugar industry of the country. Christopher Hartley, a Spanish priest, serves as the film's protagonist, who was assigned to help the Haitian laborers who are working in the sugar camps. Father Hartley uncovers the exploitation and the violation of human rights of the laborers who are treated like modern-day slaves.

As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear how the sugar industry has become the source of the Dominican Republic's economic success while creating a cycle of poverty and injustice for the laborers. The powerful Vicini family has immense power and wealth that they use to own large tracts of land and influence politics in their favor.

Paul Newman, who narrates the film, describes the Vicini family's greed, their vast wealth and their luxurious lifestyles. He speaks about the sugar cane fields' brutal conditions and how the laborers are forced to work long hours with minimal wages. The laborers were not given adequate living conditions, safe drinking water, and proper medical treatment. The film also sheds light on how the workers were not allowed to leave the plantations, their movements restricted, and their documents withheld to control them.

The Price of Sugar is a dramatic and compelling film, providing an emotional and educational insight into the harsh reality of the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic. Father Hartley's efforts to expose the exploitation of the laborers are courageous and inspiring, truly representing the Catholic Church's values of social justice and equality. Through his eyes, the audience experiences the shocking and heartbreaking reality of the living conditions the laborers endure.

The Price of Sugar reveals the brutal and inhumane practices of the sugar business, including the use of child labor, slave-like conditions, and the forced displacement of thousands of people. It shows how the sugar industry's power and wealth have maintained the country's social and economic inequality.

The film highlights the lack of government intervention despite clear violations of human rights on the sugar plantations. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Vicini family is not afraid to resort to violence and intimidation to maintain their power over the laborers, as they have done for decades.

The film's themes include the resilience of the underprivileged, the corruption of the wealthy and powerful, and the power of religion to inspire action against injustice. The emotional impact of the film is powerful, with the audience feeling the laborers' pain and suffering.

The Price of Sugar is a thought-provoking film that uncovers the inhumane and exploitative practices of the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic. It highlights the need for effective governmental regulations and the importance of social justice and human rights education. The film raises awareness about the exploitation of laborers worldwide by exposing the harsh reality of multinational corporations that prioritize profit over humanity.

Overall, the Price of Sugar is a profound and moving film that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. It is a poignant reminder that we must be aware of where our products come from and support ethical companies that prioritize workers' rights and humane working conditions.

The Price of Sugar is a 2022 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 73.