Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

src: i1.netflixmovies.com

Wal-Mart: High Cost Low Price is a 2005 documentary by director Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films. The film presents a negative overview of Walmart's business practices through interviews with former employees, small business owners, and Walmart executive recordings. Greenwald also used the statistics interspersed between interview records, to provide an objective analysis of the Walmart effect on individuals and communities.

Video Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

Sinopsis

The film features footage of Walmart CEO Lee Scott's archives praising the company at a large employee convention, intercut with interviews designed to undermine Scott's statement.

The documentary argues that Walmart pays lower to its workers, paying them an average of $ 17,000 per year (in 2005 dollars). According to the interview, this wage is too low for employees to pay for Walmart health insurance, so management advises workers to propose government programs such as Medicaid. Greenwald also claimed that Walmart employed undocumented workers for their cleanup crews, paying them well below the minimum wage. Other criticisms of the retail giant chain include Walmart anti-union practices, its negative effects on mom and pop stores and small communities, inadequate environmental protection policies, and a poor record of workers' rights in the United States and internationally. Scenes filmed abroad document workers in Bangladesh and China created Walmart goods for as little as 18 cents an hour. A 9-year veteran from Walmart testified that she shed tears when she saw the conditions at a clothing manufacturing facility in Latin America. He reported the violation but the company did not fix it. The documentary also argues that Walmart parking lot has a very high crime rate, a situation that could be greatly enhanced if the company is willing to spend money to place cameras outside the store.

To avoid the POV partisan allegations, most of Greenwald's interviews are conservative, patriotic, red-sided political citizens who are sad about Walmart's policies and impact.

As the film is nearing completion, Greenwald documents the efforts of several communities that have successfully blocked Walmart in their cities, suggesting that others must do the same.

Maps Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price

Reaction

Critical reception

Wal-Mart: High Cost Low Price has enjoyed critical acclaim and earned 93% on Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. The Boston Globe calls this "the most insidious journalism journalism, and it demands to be seen, discussed, debated and acted upon." ViewLondon reviews say, "If Greenwald's intention is to make the audience so angry, then this movie is a huge success."

The film has been endorsed and promoted by MoveOn.org; union, through campaigns of Wake Up Wal-Mart and Walmart Watch; and other groups.

Some reviewers have observed that while this documentary features the story of former Walmart-influenced employees and community residents, it is not enough to explore the role of customers in Walmart's financial success, regardless of its business practices.

Walmart Response

Walmart has debated the factual accuracy of the statements made in the film. Wal-Mart: Low Cost High Cost has been credited as one of the reasons that Walmart created the "war room" of public relations at the end of 2005 in response to criticism.