H2Oil
- Posted: 10th Jun 2010
- Category: Reviews
by Katie Rice
As the modern world continues to lead a lifestyle that is unsustainable, oil giants are turning to new areas of the globe to extract oil. Canada has become the number one interest in the eyes of energy company Suncor; its oil sands in Alberta are now the main provider of oil to the United States. However, with this development comes exploitation and contamination. In her gritty documentary Shannon Walsh explores the social and ecological impact that this rush towards a large-scale extraction is having on Fort Chipewyan in Alberta and its people.
Walsh provides both a personal and political film. She skillfully combines heartfelt interviews with members of the community and the Alberta government officials, with animated snippets providing the viewer with a practical understanding of the science of oil extractions. Confronted with numerous facts and figures concerning the toxic chemicals contaminating Fort Chipewyan we learn of the effects they are having on the health of the community: the increase in cancer related deaths for instance, or people consuming fish containing dangerous levels of mercury. Walsh also explores the ecological impact that such development has. Mountain Lite are a spring water company in Alberta whose 14,000 bottles a month has been reduced to 800 due to the amount of water used by oil diggers in the area: every barrel of crude oil produced uses four barrels of fresh water.
It is a fact we all use oil, including the residents of Fort Chipewyan, but for most people it is a matter of out of sight out of mind. Walsh manages to open our eyes to the real people affected by it – the price that is paid for our lifestyle is by those often unseen and unheard. Sadly though, it seems that until the demand for oil stops, the diggers won’t either.
Dir: Shannon Walsh, Canada 2009, 73 mins
H2Oil is released on 11 June 2010. For more information visit h2oildoc.com
The Co-operative and Dogwoof will release H2Oil to cinemas from 11 June, the final film in the acclaimed Toxic Fuels trilogy including Dirty Oil and Petropolis. To mark the final instalment, on 15 June the film will screen simultaneously at 20 Vue cinemas across the UK and Dublin at 6.30pm, to find out more and book tickets visit: www.myvue.com/h2oil