See the movie Wal-Mart doesn 't want you to see : Houston Indymedia

Robert Greenwald has just released his latest film. It's a powerful expose on the toll the Wal-Mart behemoth has taken on workers and communities across the country, and how its victims are organizing to help turn the tide.

Greenwald and Brave New Films are encouraging groups to arrange free showings of the movie BEFORE it comes out in theaters. Ever seen a movie company do that before?

The movie takes the viewer on a deeply personal journey into the everyday lives of families struggling to fight goliath. From a small business owner in the Midwest to a preacher in California, from workers in Florida to a poet in Mexico, dozens of film crews on three continents bring the intensely personal stories of an assault on families and American values. WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE is a feature length documentary that uncovers a retail giant's assault on families and American values.

The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath. A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide healthcare for her two small children. A Missouri family loses its business after Wal-Mart is given over $2 million to open its doors down the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart pulls out and relocates just outside the city limits. A community in California unites, takes on the giant, and wins!

Greenwald is the director of several other great documentaries , including "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism", "Uncovered: The War on Iraq", "Unprecedented" (about the 2000 presidential election), and "Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties".

Everyone has seen Wal-Mart's lavish television commercials, but have you ever wondered why Wal-Mart spends so much money trying to convince you it cares about your family, your community, and even its own employees? What is it hiding? "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price" takes you behind the glitz and into the real lives of workers and their families, business owners and their communities, in an extraordinary journey that will challenge the way you think, feel... and shop.

Wal-Mart is going into attack mode. The company has literally created a war room, staffed with political consultants who are working day and night to undermine the movie and spread pro-Wal-Mart propaganda. But it's not working: thanks to the questions raised by the film, national media are tuning in to Wal-Mart's high cost to American families-and last week the movie was featured on page 1 of the New York Times.

Don't expect coverage from Houston's KUHF, though. They've announced on the air that they have joined other public radio and TV stations who have accepted money from Wal-Mart.

A coalition of over hundreds of unions, churches, progressive organizations, small business groups, and thousands of individuals are joining together to launch the new Robert Greenwald's new film on Wal-Mart. Greenwald is asking groups to host screenings across the US to help more people learn about what Wal-Mart is doing to employees, small businesses, and others.

Time:
Light refreshments will be available starting at 6 pm. The movie starts at 7 pm.

Cost:
Free. Donations of any amount to support activities of the Progressive Action Alliance are welcome, but not required.

Where to see it
The Progressive Action Alliance is sponsoring one of the screenings of the new Wal-Mart expose. It's at:
The Artery, 5401 Jackson St. at Prospect St., Houston, 77004
This is just north of Hermann Park.
Park on either street, enter on Prospect St..
Map

Dates and times of other showings of the film (including at least 10 others in Houston, plus many other areas):
Wal-Mart movie screenings across the US

Bring flyers to the PAA screening for any upcoming events you want to publicize.

For more details, or to get flyers for this event to give to friends, see PAA's web page for the movie

More information on the movie, and on Wal-Mart's efforts to stop it:
Wal-Mart movie web site

National organizations, that are planning actions to hold Wal-Mart accountable, include Wal-Mart Watch ("Hold Wal-Mart Accountable") and Wake Up Wal-Mart ("Wal-Mart vs. America"). Please check those web sites for activities in the ongoing struggle against this corporate giant.