Pink Ribbons, Inc. Reviews

A good way to start a debate among 10 randomly selected individuals would be to have them view Lea Pool's Pink Ribbons Inc and have at each other. The premise of the film is this: you shouldn't be so quick in providing donations to the Pink Ribbon campaign because it has become a PR exercise for firms which often create products that increases the risk of cancer in users and the money may not go to the organizations that can provide a cure. Moving beyond cancer, I think that this is a healthy addition to the debate on corporate responsibility and how willing we are as a society to overlook sins if a cheque is issued to a charity.

An uneven documentary, perhaps, but spearheaded mostly by informed women who make their point well: The Komen pink ribbon campaign has morphed into little more than a profit-making gimmick for corporations and a source of gluttonous salaries for Komen executives.

Example: Research reveals that female workers in certain production areas of the automotive industry are at a much higher risk for breast cancer, yet Komen partners with Ford to issue a black Mustang with pink striping and logos.

Example: Cosmetics companies vend products containing various known carcinogens-with pink ribbon logos on the boxes.

Example: Komen funds little research into a variety of highly-suspected environmental risks because it would conflict with the profit-maximization objectives of the corporations with which it partners.

Example: A woman points out that lighting Niagara Falls in pink for 24 hours might make women feel good, but what does that accomplish in terms of actual change?

Again, the documentary is uneven, but it contains a number of such insightful nuggets that reveal the public's pink ribbon obsession for what it really is--entirely misguided.

Crack a beer. Watch this movie. Ask some questions about that pink spatula you spent $12 on.

Nicely done. I really liked it and learned some new things. I would recommend it to everyone. It encourages people to think and question everything. It includes interviews from cancer victims and corporations' representatives. It will rub some people the wrong way like a woman said in the documentary the lies people believe about cancer are comforting.

"In the 98 minutes of "Pink Ribbons, Inc.," a wealth of information and images flit past, many intended to raise eyebrows if not ire." â" Seattle Times

What has research accomplished?

I've felt like the fool saying, "The Emperor doesn't have any clothes on!" for years., while good friends spent the weekend walking. My thought was they were helping someone in Dallas get a new chandelier for their multi-million dollar home. Those "foundation" salaries were $600,000 a year for the top 10 execs. One county in Georgia was raising the most money for pink when it was discovered there were no services for women, ie wigs, prosthetics, etc. in that county.
Best marketing ploy this century!

Thank you for making this movie.

Wonderful film that everyone should see.

Not likely I will be looking at pink ribbons the same way any time soon!

Just watched this fantastic doc about the breast cancer movement and the pink ribbon campaign. What an eye opener!!

Pink Ribbons, Inc. exposes the truth behind this movement. If you love her, regardless of who she is, you will be enraged by the facts that come to light in this film.

the lady with the mustache distracted me from anything relevant being presented.

About time someone at least tried to shine some light on cause marketing and how often it is useless (or even counterproductive) to benefiting the cause but a windfall for the advertisers who attach themselves to it. Would that more than a rare few could see with a skeptics eye. And even here, it's discouraging to hear critics deride those who lack historical perspective while themselves displaying a perspective of, at best, a century. Such missteps are rare, though, and the movie admirably gives voice to quite an array of perspectives.

As the Founder and President of a non-profit organization which raises funds for breast cancer research I found Pink Ribbons, Inc. disturbing and unproductive. I was inclined to rattle off each offense and elaborate on why I disagree. After having settled down a bit I will, instead, express a concise reply. I fear this film stigmatizes the business of raising funds for a worthy cause into something ugly and disingenuous. I fear movie viewers will be confused and demoralized by the film's ugly message. And, I fear past supporters may feel so degraded and shamed by this film that they will choose to direct their efforts and money elsewhere. We at The Lynn Sage Foundation agree that a collaborative approach to medical research is ideal and that activism can be constructive. Transparency is essential. Research into environmental causes of cancer is also very welcome. Funding worthy projects is simply not possible without the aid of corporations and individuals. Government dollars are scarce and dwindling. While their were some useful messages within the movie, the emphasis placed on sensationalism and inaccuracies is useless. We, and we presume many of our non-profits peers, would welcome the help of corporations, individuals and associates to collaborate on finding the causes, better treatments and a eventually a cure for this terrible disease.

Highly recommend a search for the site "Pinkwashing" which highlights the money made from companies exploiting the pink ribbon.

found it inspiring, and a different perspective

I went to the Canadian premiere of "Pink Ribbons Inc" tonight, was quite an amazing experience. Being one of the few men in the audience of mostly women I suppose I had a very different take on the whole experience.

The film itself was a highly polished documentary, and being a Canadian I was proud of that. Featuring good editing and amazing animations throughout the film. Showing both Canada and America, and near the end the globalization of the Pink Ribbon campaign, all over the world.

The interviews were a tad cushy in my opinion. But it would be quite impossible to interview the heads of some of the largest "pinkwashing" corporations in the world and have them actually admit to much, or play sides, of course they will stand on their own side.

But I learned a lot. I learned that this fight has been going on since the 1930's. I got to see faces of women who are actually dying of breast cancer, and hear their stories, most of which touched me deeply.

And I have to wonder. If so much cash is being funneled into "research" then why is there so little progress. If breast cancer has been a rallied cause since 1930, compared to HIV/AIDS, which started in the 1980's, just for a comparison here. Why is a disease that has been in the spotlight to some capacity for almost 100 years still affecting us so deeply, and why are the numbers growing, and why does nobody know what causes it?

In conclusion I feel deeply betrayed by corporations, I think anyone why is a consumer needs to see this film.