Film Lens
McLibel is a documentary about the McLibel case, focusing on the legal battle between two activists and McDonald's. Directed by Franny Armstrong and Ken Loach, the film includes courtroom reconstructions and interviews with notable figures such as Eric Schlosser and Morgan Spurlock. The original 52-minute version was completed in 1997, and an extended 85-minute version was released in 2005 after the defendants appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.
The film was broadcast on BBC 2 in 2005, attracting around 1 million viewers. It was also shown in 15 countries and released on DVD worldwide. The documentary has received critical acclaim, holding a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 81% score on Metacritic. It was nominated for several awards, including the Grierson Documentary Award and the British Independent Film Awards.
Why Watch
- •See courtroom reconstructions by Ken Loach.
- •Meet activists who took on McDonald's.
- •Find out about the European Court of Human Rights appeal.
Did You Know
•The original version of McLibel was completed in 1997.
•More than 25 million people have seen the film as of August 2004.
•The 2005 version was released theatrically in multiple countries including the UK and U.S.
•The film features over six hours of extras on its DVD release.
Perfect For
Fast food industry criticsLegal drama enthusiastsDocumentary fans