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Deep Dive: Crude (2009)

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Crude
Crude is a documentary that follows a two-year segment of a class action lawsuit against Chevron Corporation in Ecuador, focusing on the legal battle over pollution in the Amazon rainforest. The film centers on the claims of 30,000 Ecuadorians who allege that their ancestral land has been contaminated due to oil drilling in the Lago Agrio oil field, a situation likened to an 'Amazon Chernobyl'. Through interviews with key figures, including lawyers and activists, the film presents both sides of the lawsuit and examines the wider effects of corporate power and environmental degradation. The documentary features insights from various stakeholders, including Steven Donziger, the American lawyer representing the plaintiffs, and representatives from Chevron. It also shows the influence of media and celebrity activism, with notable support from Sting and Trudie Styler. The film concludes with a prediction that the lawsuit may remain unresolved for another decade unless an out-of-court settlement is reached.

Why Watch

  • •Meet activists Sting and Trudie Styler supporting the cause.
  • •Follow the intense legal battle against Chevron in Ecuador.
  • •See the impact of multinational corporations on indigenous cultures.

Did You Know

•The lawsuit against Chevron involves 30,000 Ecuadorians.
•The legal case is valued at $27 billion.
•The film was directed by Joe Berlinger and produced in 2009.
•A federal judge ruled in 2010 that Berlinger must turn over over 600 hours of footage.

Perfect For

Environmental activismCorporate accountabilityIndigenous rightsLegal battles