McLibel - Two Worlds Collide - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: AV Channel-Madman Entertainment
Certificate: PG | All Region | 55 minutes
Available to buy
Director: Franny Armstrong
Extras: Yes

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

Over the course of several years postman Dave Morris and gardener Helen Steel take on the mighty McDonald’s corporation and in doing so end up involved in the longest trial in English history. Helen and Dave are both members of a small scale protest action group who is 1986 scored a big level of publicity with their leaflet what’s wrong with McDonalds accusing the corporation of all manner of unsavoury activities. McDonalds of course, as they like to do, decided to take action, even going so far as to hire private investigators to infiltrate the group.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

Absolutely fascinating account of an infamous courtroom battle and a great companion piece to recent cinema hit super size me – although only running 50 minutes, the documentary (filmed over 3 years by Franny Armstrong) manages to pack in all the key elements, with background to the case, contributions from those involved including a private detective who infiltrated the group as well as some re-enactments of key courtroom moments (these are directed by legendary social realist Ken Coach).

Certainly not as high profile as Michael Moore's recent efforts but just as vital and despite it’s TV origins being sometimes obvious Mclibel turns out to be a thrilling David and Goliath battle as the people take on the system.

Extraordinary and very watchable.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

Main extra is a short 5 minutes segment taken from John Safran’s music Jamboree series which sees Safran trying to infiltrate McDonalds (dressed as Ronald McDonald) and ending up getting arrested . Other extras are trailers for other madman docos as well as a couple of DVD Rom features one of which is the original flyer that started it all.