The Emperor's New Clothes

Filmed in Canada, the United States and Mexico over a three-year period, this provocative documentary immerses itself in the stark reality of life before, during and after the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It takes an incisive look at the profound effects that economic agreements between big business and government can have on human lives, including increased cuts to social programs, massive unemployment, environmental damage, and demoralization.

After examining the situation in Canada, the film follows a delegation of workers to Mexico to see where some of their jobs have gone. They find the lawns in front of industrial plants greened by sprinklers, while some Mexican workers live in cardboard shacks without running water. It's a revealing and emotional experience for the Canadians, and for the viewers of this thought-provoking film.

The Emperor's New Clothes poses a powerful, sobering question: In this global war of cut-rate economies, are people on the losing side?