Pink Ribbons, Inc. (2011)

Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Directed by Léa Pool. Breast cancer has become the poster child of corporate cause-related marketing campaigns. Countless women and men walk, bike, climb and shop for the cure. Each year, millions of dollars are raised in the name of breast cancer, but where does this money go and what does it actually achieve? Pink Ribbons, Inc. is a feature documentary that shows how the devastating reality of breast cancer, which marketing experts have labeled a “dream cause,” becomes obfuscated by a shiny, pink story of success.

“u0026quot;Pink Ribbons, Inc.u0026quot; is a far from perfect film but itu0026#39;s also a film that dares to ask many important questions. While the masses blindly buy their pink ribboned products and corporations thereby get richer, this film dares to question many things about this trendy cause. Because it will get you to think, itu0026#39;s well worth seeing. Some of the wonderful questions they pose include: There are some odd associations–such as many of the companies sticking the ribbons on their products ALSO produce carcinogenic products–such as cosmetics.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe percentage of the money from these ribbons that goes to research is negligible. Most folks buying the products and doing the cancer walks assume the bulk of the money is being used for research when it isnu0026#39;t.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThrowing money blindly at a problem may be a complete waste. There is no coordination among researchers and there is an assumption that money will lead to an elimination of the problem–providing a false sense of control.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere also were some parts in the film that irritated me. Either statements were made that were OPINION instead of fact-based bothered me and many important points were never mentioned. These include: The link between chemicals and cancers needs to be addressed. Research establishing links between product exposure and cancer have not been done on many items we use all the time. This was a great point but also problematic and something I disliked about the film. They never even discussed how many (if not most) cancers may be caused by genetics and a few of the people interviewed seemed to ASSUME certain chemicals are leading to higher incidence of cancer. No one mentions that PERHAPS the increase in cancer is simply because people are living much longer and the longer you live, the more likely youu0026#39;ll get cancer.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOddly, no one in the film talked about how all the attention and money focused on breast cancer may lead to deaths–deaths because less attention and money is being spent on research on OTHER cancers and non-cancerous killers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne lady asserted that cancer MAY be caused by viruses but, as I said above, the genetic link was NEVER mentioned in the film. This is VERY odd, as the link of genetics with breast cancer is very strong (i.e., it is often passed from generation to generation within families).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo, overall, Iu0026#39;d say the film is a mixed bag. I admire them for taking on a u0026#39;sacred cowu0026#39; but also wish the film had maintained a much tighter focus–in other words, WHERE IS ALL THIS MONEY GOING? and DOES ANY OF THIS REALLY HELP? Worth seeing but donu0026#39;t think the film is Gospel, either.”