The saga of a handful of conquerors who built an empire in Central America and invented the methods of one of the very first multinationals. In 19th century Central America, a few entrepreneurial cowboys built an empire that enslaved populations and corrupted governments for over 100 years. The United Fruit Company thrived on unregulated capitalism; this film tells its story and that of its pioneers who feared neither God nor Man, and managed to get away with murder. Until the 1970s, that multinational set up a monopoly by combining violence, repression, corruption, environmental destruction and a formidable marketing machine. It turned an unknown fruit into an instrument of fortune and domination, and created a business model still largely used by today’s tech giants. Using a rich trove of archival footage and documents, including letters to and from lobbyists, telegrams, vintage ads and movie clips, and gorgeous, hand-tinted stills, 'When Banana Ruled' is a story of intrigue that touches on economics, international politics, the history of business and reveals how an array of forces conquered the world through a simple fruit.
To show what the USA can learn from rest of the world, director Michael Moore playfully visits various nations in Europe and Africa as a one-man "invader" to take their ideas and practices for America. Whether it is Italy with its generous vacation time allotments, France with its gourmet school lunches, German with its industrial policy, Norway and its prison system, Tunisia and its strongly progressive women's policy and Iceland and its strong female presence in government and business among others, Michael Moore discovers there is much that American should emulate
The bitter feud between Sheela and the Bhagwan divides the community -- and opens the door for the FBI. At the ranch, a task force amasses evidences against the Rajineesh for poisoning, attempted murder, spying and sabotage. Sheela's replacement is a wealthy movie producer named Hasya.
The U.S. authorities granted Bhagwan's visa as a religious teacher and leader. But local officials try to build a case against the Rajneeshees with the largest immigration fraud in the history of the United States. When Sheela's thirst for power, even with murder attempts, is revealed, the Bhagwan finally breaks his silence.
When the followers of the Indian so-called 'guru of sex', Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, start to build a utopian city in the Oregon desert, a massive conflict with local ranchers ensues; producing the first bioterror attack in US history, the largest case of illegal wiretapping, and the world's biggest collection of Rolls-Royce automobiles. In the first episode, under the watchful eye of his secretary, Ma Anand Sheela, spiritual leader 'Osho' moves his ashram from India to Oregon in 1981.
With increasing rumours of a pending arrest intensified, the Bhagwan flees the ranch. The two Learjets carrying Rajneesh and ten of his followers lands at the Charlotte airport, where U.S. police were waiting for them. The United States Marshals Service arrests Rajneesh. Almost simultaneously, Sheela and several followers are also arrested in Germany. In a federal court in Portland, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh pleads guilty to immigration fraud charges and agrees to leave the country. The Bhagwan's devotees -- and his enemies -- reflect on his legacy.
Using a rich trove of archival footage and documents, including letters to and from lobbyists, telegrams, vintage ads and movie clips, and gorgeous, hand-tinted stills, 'When Banana Ruled' is a story of intrigue that touches on economics, international politics, the history of business and reveals how an array of forces conquered the world through a simple fruit.