[UPDATE: The broadcast of Big Men will air on PBS's POV on Monday, August 25th at 10pm EST.]
The wonky public policy debates over what to do with African oil windfalls comes to the big screen with BIG MEN, a terrific new documentary by Rachel Boynton. BIG MEN follows the Texas-based Kosmos Energy as it searches for oil off the West African coast and then, soon after their discovery, as they renegotiate with a new government in Accra. The film also delves into the entrenched corruption and violence in the Niger Delta, providing a stark backdrop to the growing worries about what might happen in Ghana. I was lucky enough to see the film recently and it has three big strengths:
- Incredible access to key players, including inside Kosmos, the Government of Ghana, and the swamps of the Delta.
- The complexities of the issues facing countries and investors are thoughtfully handled with care and subtlety.
- The tension of a real-life thriller.
BIG MEN opens in Washington DC on Friday March 28th in at the E Street Theater. On opening night, Oxfam’s Ian Gary will moderate a Q&A with the Director at 7:10pm. (Other cities listed here.) I’ve seen it once already, but I’ll be going again with CGD staff on April 3rd.
Here’s a preview:
