Mongrel Media (Canada)
Directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Entertainment One)
The fundamental bond between man and water is the unifying theme in this documentary featuring spectacular photography from around the world. In the USA, farming practices have depleted the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains and artificially changed the landscape in California's Imperial Valley. In China, huge dams are built to harness the power of water for electricity. In India and Bangladesh, mass production of goods requires large amounts of water which is mixed with harsh chemicals and then allowed to run off into rivers where millions are shown bathing in it during a festival. The film is often lyrical in its presentation, with moments of unparalleled beauty. It subtlely deals with political hot button issues such as global warming in a way that allows the images to speak for themselves and the viewer to draw their own conclusion. There is occasional commentary from a photographer who is putting together a new book that really could have been left out entirely. Otherwise, this is an overwhelming, emotional journey on par with similar features from Godfrey Reggio.
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