And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon (1992)

And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon (1992) is a captivating documentary originating from Trinidad and Tobago that delves into the pervasive influence of North American television programs on Caribbean broadcasting. The film begins with the premise that Caribbean television is inundated with content from the United States and France, leading to a distorted worldview for local viewers. Through a blend of interviews, local poetry, music, and clips from imported television programs, the documentary illustrates how this influx of foreign content can alienate Caribbean audiences from their own cultural roots. The film also explores Cuba's approach to addressing this issue, featuring an interview with renowned Cuban film director Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, and examines the American response through the lens of Radio and TV Marti. This thought-provoking piece is part of the Developing Stories Series on Environment and Development, and was praised by Starweek Magazine as "An astonishingly searing look at TV.