DVD, Videorecording, Projected Medium, Visual Materials

H-2 worker / Docurama ; produced in association with Valley Filmworks, Inc. ; produced and directed by Stephanie Black.

New York, NY : Docurama Films : Distributed in the U.S. by New Video, ©2008.

©2008

1 videodisc (approximately 70 min.) : sound, color with black and white sequences ; 4 3/4 in.

digital optical

video file DVD video region 1

Since World War II, the United States has been issuing H-2 licenses for seasonal farm workers. These workers are meant to be covered by the same laws as regular workers, but these rules are not often followed. While America complains about cheap foreign labor, it uses--and abuses--millions of foreign laborers who do jobs that American workers refuse to do. These people work in heavily subsidized industries, producing the food that North America demands, and because we are unwilling to pay more for that food, employers do not treat these workers with basic human dignity or respect. This film examines the plight of Jamaicans brought to spend six brutal months cutting sugar cane near Lake Okeechobee, Florida, in the late 1980's. There are thousands of H-2 workers in the U.S. in 2008, and their circumstances have not improved with the passing of years. Originally released in 1990, this documentary provides an invaluable resource to understanding current debate over guest worker provisions of immigration legislation. While Florida's sugar cane cutters have been replaced by mechanical harvesters, guest worker programs have expanded in agriculture, hotel, restaurant, forestry, and other industries.

Foreign workers, Jamaican -- Abuse of -- Florida -- Okeechobee, Lake.

Sugar workers -- Abuse of -- Florida -- Okeechobee, Lake.

Sugarcane industry -- Florida -- 20th century.

Agricultural laborers, Foreign -- Abuse of -- Florida -- Okeechobee, Lake.

Migrant agricultural laborers -- Abuse of -- Florida -- Okeechobee, Lake.

Foreign workers -- United States -- Social conditions -- 20th century.

Foreign workers -- United States -- Economic conditions -- 20th century.

Foreign workers -- Government policy -- United States.

Nonfiction films.

Feature films.

Documentary films.

Black, Stephanie (Motion picture director)

Alberti, Maryse.

Mullen, John.

Mutabaruka, 1952-

Valley Filmworks, Inc.

Docurama (Firm)

New Video Group.

Title on disc label and container: H2 worker

Sundance 1990 Grand Jury Prize Documentary

Special features: Update on the guest worker program (19 min.); Short: "More than luck" (1 min.); Trailer: "Life and debt" (2 min.); Audio commentary by director Stephanie Black [optional]; About Docurama [text feature]; Docurama trailers (9 min.).

Originally produced as an American documentary in 1990.

Cinematography, Maryse Alberti ; edited by John Mullen ; original music by Mutabaruka ; consultant, Nancy Baker ; research, Jo Applebaum, Elia Suleiman, Cathy Lewis, Jacob Berger, Jan Baracz.

Commentators, Probyn W. Aitken, Dalton Yancey, Tom Breunning, Michael Manley, Tom Downey, Bill Bradley; letters to and from workers read by Homer Heron, George Cesvette, Oliver Stephenson, Delroy Hunter, Jervis Anderson, King David, Belinda Goffe.

DVD; NTSC; Dolby Digital stereo.

In English with optional subtitles in Spanish.

Winner, 1990 Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award: Documentary--Maryse Alberti; Grand Jury Prize: Documentary--Stephanie Black.

Farm Worker Program acceptance -- A ton of cane an hour -- "Hereditary urge" -- Not much sugar in cane -- From barracks to bus to field -- American labor doesn't want that job -- A matter of simple arithmetic -- My turn to get cut -- The probability is not there -- The Okeelanta strike -- See you next season -- Credits.

0767098099

9780767098090

NNVG9892

314188735

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746108

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DVD 338.17361 H-2 work