The Smell of Money
Movie · Documentary

"The smell of money”—that’s what Big Pork calls the stench of pig waste in the air in eastern North Carolina, where much of the world’s bacon and barbecue is made. But to Elsie Herring and others who live near the state’s giant pig factories, the revolting odor is a call to battle against generations of injustice. When a corporate hog farm moves in–uninvited–on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage turns into a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution. After decades of intimidation and defeat, Elsie and her community team up with a gutsy small-town lawyer to take the world’s largest pork company to court. An epic, nine-year legal battle ensues, and the residents risk everything to reclaim their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit. A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what's on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.

2023 · 1h 24m
  • 100%
Starring Elsie Herring, Rene Miller, Don Webb
Director Shawn Bannon

Trailers

  • The Smell of Money
    The Smell of Money
    Documentary

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Cast & Crew

  • E‌H
    Elsie Herring
    Self
  • Rene Miller
    Self
  • D‌W
    Don Webb
    Self
  • S‌W
    Susan Webb
    Self
  • M‌L
    Mona Lisa Wallace
    Self
  • L‌B
    Larry Baldwin
    Self
  • R‌D
    RICK DOVE
    Self
  • Cory Booker
    Self
  • S‌B
    Shawn Bannon
    Director
  • S‌B
    Shawn Bannon
    Producer
  • J‌B
    Jamie Berger
    Producer

About

The Smell of Money

Documentary

"The smell of money”—that’s what Big Pork calls the stench of pig waste in the air in eastern North Carolina, where much of the world’s bacon and barbecue is made. But to Elsie Herring and others who live near the state’s giant pig factories, the revolting odor is a call to battle against generations of injustice. When a corporate hog farm moves in–uninvited–on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage turns into a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution. After decades of intimidation and defeat, Elsie and her community team up with a gutsy small-town lawyer to take the world’s largest pork company to court. An epic, nine-year legal battle ensues, and the residents risk everything to reclaim their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit. A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what's on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.

100%

TOMATOMETER
Average 7.6
Reviews 6
Fresh 6

Information

Studio
Beyond The Pines, LLC.
Released
2023
Run Time
1 hr 24 min
Rated
Unrated
Region of Origin
United States
© 2022 Beyond the Pines, LLC.

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (⁨Dolby 5.1⁩, AAC)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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