| Pink Ribbons, Inc. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Léa Pool |
| Written by | Patricia Kearns Nancy Guerin Léa Pool |
| Based on | Pink Ribbons, Inc: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy by Samantha King |
| Produced by | Ravida Din |
| Cinematography | Daniel Jobin Sylvaine Dufaux Nathalie Moliavko-Visotzky |
| Edited by | Oana Suteu |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | First Run Features (U.S.) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a 2011 National Film Board of Canada (NFB) documentary about the pink ribbon campaign, directed by Léa Pool and produced by Ravida Din.[1] The film is based on the 2006 book Pink Ribbons, Inc: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy by Samantha King, associate professor of kinesiology and health studies at Queen's University.[2]
The film documents how some companies use pink ribbon-related marketing to increase sales while contributing only a small fraction of proceeds to the cause, or use "pinkwashing" to improve their public image while manufacturing products that may be carcinogenic. For the millions that are raised for breast cancer research by the campaign, the film argues that not enough money goes to prevention or exploring possible environmental factors. Pink Ribbons, Inc. features interviews with critics of the pink ribbon campaign, researchers and cancer patients as well as cancer fundraisers such as Nancy Brinker, head of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.[2][3][4]
Pool interviews Charlotte Haley, who began a peach-coloured ribbon campaign more than 20 years ago to press the National Cancer Institute to increase its budget for cancer prevention research, from a mere 5 per cent. When Haley was approached by Self magazine and cosmetics company Estée Lauder in 1992 to use her ribbons in a breast cancer awareness campaign she refused, because she had no desire to be part of a commercial effort. So the company changed the colour to pink, to circumvent Haley's efforts.[5][6]
Also featured is the "IV League," a support group in Austin, Texas for women diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, who feel unwelcome in the pink ribbon movement because, in the words of one member, "They’re learning to live and you’re learning to die."[6] Author Samantha King has called it “the tyranny of cheerfulness.”[2]
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. International Film Guide. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-908215-01-7.
- ^ a b c Szklarski, Cassandra (31 January 2012). "NFB doc examines the politics of marketing disease". CTV News. Canadian Press. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ Anderson, John (15 September 2011). "Pink Ribbons, Inc". Variety. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ Heinrich, Jeff (31 January 2012). "It's a fine line between fundraising, feminism". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ Barnard, Linda (2 February 2012). "Pink Ribbons Inc. review: Not so pretty in pink". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
- ^ a b Campbell, Marlo (26 January 2012). "We've been pinkwashed". Uptown. Retrieved 2 February 2012.