Nothing Like Chocolate

Gr 10 Up—Kum-Kum Bhavnani, noted social researcher and producer, has directed this film that offers insight into one of our most beloved substances—chocolate—and the slavery epidemic that plagues cocoa bean harvesting. Child slavery, especially in Cote d'Ivoire, needs to be rectified; if large corporations (such as Hershey's) are not going to address it, Bhavnani hopes to inspire viewers to act. The reality that fair trade does not always translate into better pay for farmers is balanced with a warm story about the founders of the Grenada Chocolate Factory, a solar-powered co-op. Mott Green has created a system where cocoa bean farmers are paid a fair wage. He and his partner started a kitchen-sized factory to bring the beauty of the cocoa nut to the world. The flaws of the system of fair trade are exposed as well as the extreme profit gained through the sale of cocoa beans. But, industrialization was not designed to advance democracy or human rights. The documentary bounces around a bit, with a focus on a farmer who ends up joining Mott's organic cooperative, a cocoa bean trader, and a few short interviews. If your curriculum includes sustainability, this might be a good purchase. It is a better choice for public library patrons with more diverse interests.—Pamela Schembri, Newburgh Enlarged City Schools, NY