HeilmannCraigAnnotation10

Craig Heilmann, Film Annotations

1. Title, director, and release year? // Blue Gold //, Sam Bozzo (2008) 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film? Water is a resource central to the existence of life and is becoming more limited in many countries. The privatization of water is only hurting this, increasing the price of the resource and exporting it from places that it used to be abundant in. 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out? The sustainability problem drawn out in this film stems from an organizational standpoint. Water is being privatized and exported to make a profit. Countries export water because they have an abundance of it and other people want it. What happens when the demand increases with something like a natural resource is the supply diminishes. If your country’s water supply runs out your people suffer. This is an organizational issue, but also a political issue in that it is often the government that helps regulate the export of the resource. 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? I found it interesting that water has been classified as an economic good rather than simply a human dependence and resource. This goes to show you that people in our modern society have been taken completely out of the picture. It is all about making a profit. If the weak suffer and the strong grow stronger then that is what has to happen. 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? I was not compelled by the generic public service announcement about what US citizens can do to preserve water. Although things like turning off the sink when not using it is important, that is really more common sense than anything else and doesn’t hold merit in a sustainable film. I also found the angry water droplets in the cartoon to be terrifying. 6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.? I was definitely moved by the story and the creating of the Ryan’s Well Foundation. I would like to find out what other organizations there are out there that are doing similar things. At a time when many people in other countries go without a basic human need like water with the increased desertification of the world, we need more organizations that are doing things to support others who need help and ways of attaining water. 7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems? This film addresses people who waste water without realizing it. People living in dry climates shouldn’t be watering their lawns everyday; in fact regardless of where you live you should not be doing that. We must use our resources wisely. 8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film? The film reminds us to protect water. We should unprivatize water to once again make it about the people and not just money. The human life and way of life is certainly more valuable. The film also advocates using water wisely. 9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? I would have liked it if they focused more on what people are doing to help people. The segment on Ryan’s Well really stuck with me and I would have love to hear more.