McLibel (film)

Production

The 1997 version was shown at film festivals worldwide, and sold to TV in about ten countries. The 2005 extended version was released theatrically in the UK, U.S., Australia, and other countries and sold to TV around the world, notably to BBC 2 (as part of their prestigious "Storyville Classics" season, where it achieved one million viewers at 10pm on a Sunday night) and CBC in Canada.

McLibel features courtroom reconstructions of the trial directed by notable UK film director Ken Loach, who gave his time for free. It also features interviews with Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation), Morgan Spurlock (writer/director of Super Size Me), Keir Starmer (who provided free legal support to the McLibel defendants for many years, first as a barrister, then as a QC; later in 2008 he became the Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales), and Howard Lyman of Oprah/Mad Cow infamy.

Release

McLibel was broadcast on BBC 2 in 2005, to an estimated 1 million viewers. It was then also broadcast on TV in 15 countries – including Australia, Canada and the USA – and released on DVD worldwide. McLibel was released in cinemas and DVD stores in the U.S in summer 2005 and this was followed in the UK in 2006.

Reception

As of August 2004, the producers estimate that more than 25 million people have seen the film.

The film has a 100% positive rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews. Metacritic gave the film a rating of 81% based on 4 reviews.

Dennis Harvey of Variety magazine describes it as "an alarming if ultimately inspiring David-and-Goliath parable for today".

Wendy Ide in The Times described McLibel as “a very watchable little film about a big battle”. The Seattle Times said “An irresistible David and Goliath tale… you can’t help but cheer along”, and The Sydney Morning Herald called it “An extraordinary example of independent filmmaking”. A Time Out London reviewer said “a radical screen full that will satisfy both head and heart”.

McLibel was nominated for numerous awards, including the Grierson Documentary Award (Grierson Awards) and the British Independent Film Awards. It was picked for the British Film Institute's prestigious series, "Ten Documentaries which Changed the World".

Home media

The DVD version was released in 2005 and features more than six hours of extras, including a spoof McDonald's commentary track from comedian Rob Newman.