Controversy is bubbling up over the screening and distribution of a new documentary about the Coca-Cola company set to premiere in Montreal at Cinema Politica next week.

Produced by Argus Films and the NFB, The Coca Cola Case (reviewed here) follows a groundbreaking U.S. federal court case against Coca-Cola for alleged wrongdoing and complicity in the deaths of union leaders at partner bottling plants in Colombia. In the past few decades, hundreds of workers have been intimidated and/or illegally detained by violent paramilitaries, often working closely with plant managements.

Two days ago, a letter from lawyers in New York representing Coca-Cola was sent to the film collective, saying the film reveals confidential information. 

For his part, Cinema Politica founder Ezra Winton has no plans to stop the film tour, which hits 17 Canadian cities and continues into March. Cinema Politica regularly screens topical and hard-hitting docs to packed houses, but Winton says "intimidating letters from NY lawyers about our screenings are pretty rare."

Docs that zoom in on multinationals are feeling the power of big business to land underhand jabs against free expression. Bananas!* on trial for menace, tagged "the film Dole Food Company doesn't want you to see," is a brilliant doc that follows another David vs Goliath lawsuit against fruit giant Dole. In a similar move, Dole is suing filmmaker Fredrik Gertten, as well as the producer and their production company in Sweden for slander and defamation. Bananas!* , a remarkably balanced film that follows an historic event in an American court, should be viewed as a matter of public record and of great public interest. 

The Coca Cola Case screens at Concordia, Monday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m in Room H-110, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Ray Rogers, who spearheads the Killer Coke campaign (see image above) and is a subject in the film, will be in attendance.