McLibel is a documentary film directed by Franny Armstrong for Spanner Films about the McLibel case. The film was first completed, as a 52 minute television version, in 1997, after the conclusion of the original McLibel trial. It was then re-edited to 85 minute feature length in 2005, after the McLibel defendants took their case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Direction
Armstrong's ten-year commitment capturing this absurd legal marathon.
Writing
The leaked McDonald's internal documents that backfire spectacularly.
Production
Ken Loach's courtroom reconstructions with actual trial transcripts.
Director
Ken Loach
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The McLibel trial remains the longest court case in English history at 313 days — longer than many murder trials.
The case directly led to 2013's Defamation Act reform, finally requiring corporations to prove actual financial damage before suing critics.
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