Super Companies

Winner of a Red Ribbon at the American Film Festival, Boyce Richardson's documentary is a provocative look at the aluminum industry, in general, and Canada's ALCAN corporation in particular. Shot on four continents, the story begins with Charles Martin Hall's discovery of how to create aluminum out of a reddish ore called bauxite. The original founder of the Aluminum Corporation of America (ALCOA), Hall went on to seek new sources for bauxite. During the 50s, Jamaica turned out to be a prime source for bauxite, as did the Kitimat area in Canada, where entire villages of local Indians were transported to make way for business. Later on ALCAN would move to both Norway and Australia (although Norway bought ALCAN out of the country in 1974). Richardson's focus throughout is what might be called the "rules" of the super companies: namely, "buy at the lowest possible price," and "in the quest for profit, anybody can be partners." These guiding principles have not only made for some strange alliances, they've also precluded any interest or built-in concern for the peoples who are affected by the whims of multi-national corporations. Moving into modern times, Richardson demonstrates a peculiar irony: although ALCAN receives a water power subsidy funded by the Canadian taxpayer, the company is cutting back jobs in Canada, and pouring its resources into Third World countries. Obviously, there's an ethical question here. Just as obviously, super companies deem themselves to be above ethics. An enlightening and excellent documentary. Highly recommended for those libraries who can afford it. (See THE DINGLES for availability.)