The Price of Sugar (2007)

In the sun-soaked Caribbean haven of the Dominican Republic, unsuspecting tourists revel on untouched beaches, oblivious to a stark reality lurking mere miles away. The Price of Sugar unveils this hidden world, where thousands of displaced Haitians are held under armed vigilance on sprawling sugarcane plantations, their toil sweetening kitchens across America. Armed only with machetes, they endure grueling 14-hour shifts, seven days a week, in conditions devoid of basic human necessities - adequate shelter, electricity, clean water, education, healthcare, or even proper nutrition. The narrative unspools around the magnetic Spanish clergyman, Father Christopher Hartley, who rallies these destitute souls, daring to defy the formidable forces profiting from their labor. This thought-provoking film subtly questions the origins of the products we thoughtlessly consume, the human price paid for their production, and crucially, the extent of our responsibility. The Price of Sugar is more than a movie; it's a mirror held up to society, asking viewers to question the true cost of their sweetened lives. With every spoon of sugar, the film reminds us, there's a story of struggle that's been silently swallowed.

The Price of Sugar is a documentary movie featuring Paul Newman and directed by Bill Haney.

The Price of Sugar is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy The Price of Sugar on Amazon Video, Apple TV and Vudu.