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Fredrik Gertten

Fredrik Gertten

Directing

Biography

Carl Fredrik (von) Gertten was a Swedish filmmaker and journalist. Gertten had a prolific career spanning journalism across continents—Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe—through the 1980s and 1990s. In 1995, he authored the travel book "Ung man söker världen" (Young Man Looking for the World) under the Gong Gong förlag publishing. His journalistic contributions extended to newspapers like Arbetet until its closure in 2000 and Kvällsposten from 2001 to 2003. Gertten ventured into television production, producing documentaries and entertainment shows for Swedish channels SVT, TV 4, and TV 3. Notably, in 2009, his production company faced a defamation lawsuit from Dole Food Company following the US screening of "Bananas!"—a documentary exploring a conflict between Dole and Nicaraguan banana plantation workers over alleged sterility cases linked to the pesticide DBCP. The court eventually ruled in favor of Gertten's production company, inspiring his 2011 documentary "Big Boys Gone Bananas!" highlighting the legal battle.

Known For

Big Boys Gone Bananas!*
6.8

The conflict between Dole Food Company and Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten unfolds dramatically in the documentary "BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!" as the corporation attempts to suppress Gertten's earlier film, "BANANAS!"—chronicling Nicaraguan workers' lawsuit against Dole. Initially selected for the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, "BANANAS!" was abruptly removed from competition, followed by a negative article in the Los Angeles Business Journal and legal threats from Dole's attorneys. Gertten captures this saga of corporate intimidation, media manipulation, and legal challenges in his documentary, showcasing the struggles documentary filmmakers face and highlighting the threat to freedom of speech posed by powerful corporations protecting their reputations.

Big Boys Gone Bananas!*

2011Movie
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George Wilson came to Malmö to dismantle the worlds largest crane. No big deal: "just a piece of steel" he says confidently. Five months and five accidents later George admits it was his worst project ever. The crane driver Paul Mezga came to Malmö as an 18-year-old. 40 years later he is maneuvering the Kockums crane for the last time. A beloved work site does no longer exist. From his kitchen window he sees the crane disappear. A dramatic documentary about two men and the definite end of an era. The Kockums crane was the worlds highest crane. It was built in 1974 during the Kockum yards most successful period. The crane quickly became a pride for the city and a symbol for an aspiring belief in the future. The yard was shut down in the 80s but the crane was still standing there like a remainder of a lost time. Now it has been sold to a yard in South Korea and has to be dismantled in four months. It is a man from Scotland, George Wilson, who is going to lead the project. With great ...

Bye Bye Malmö

2003Movie