After the Spill

After the Spill is a documentary film that was released in 2015, which explores the impact the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had on the people who called the Gulf Coast their home. The movie provides a heart-wrenching insight into the struggles and loss that the residents of the Gulf Coast went through after the worst oil spill in US history.

The film mainly focuses on the town of Venice, Louisiana, one of the hardest-hit areas by the oil spill. We are introduced to a wide range of people who reside in the town, including fishermen, shrimpers, and oystermen, who all depended on the ocean for their livelihoods. The director of the movie, Jon Bowermaster, used interviews with the locals to construct an accurate depiction of how the oil spill had impacted their lives.

Throughout the movie, we get to hear locals recount how their cherished way of life was taken away from them when the oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig began to engulf the shores. It's heartrending to see the tears of a fisherman who has been out of work for months, the disappointment of an oysterman who can no longer sell his perfectly ripe oysters, and the frustration of a shrimper whose significant other has left him because they can no longer make ends meet.

The film also goes into detail about the damage that the oil spill caused to the environment, which is still being felt today. We see the vast expanses of once-lush marshlands, now replaced with dead and decaying vegetation. We're also introduced to the BP responders hired to clean up the spill, who themselves were exposed to the dangerous chemicals that were being used, resulting in life-altering illnesses.

Melissa Leo provides a strong vocal performance in this documentary film. She narrates the story, acting as our guide as we view and experience the devastating effects that the oil spill had on the indigenous people and the environment. Leo's voice is both soothing and empathetic as she narrates the documentary, allowing the audience to connect with the residents of Venice while providing a sense of realism to the footage of the impact of the oil spill.

The film's impact arises from its consistent messaging. Throughout the movie, the focus remains on the people who have been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, their stories portrayed with empathy and sensitivity. This is in line with the film's central goal of shining a light on the devastating consequences of the catastrophic oil spill, a goal it successfully achieves. In hindsight, After the Spill provides an essential heritage of the profound impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

In conclusion, After the Spill is a documentary that should be watched by anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of what happened during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It captures the despair, hopelessness, and misery of the people who lost everything and reveals the unforgiving consequences of environmental disasters. The movie presents a powerful message about the importance of corporate responsibility and proper regulation of offshore drilling. Overall, it delivers a timely warning to the general public of how the actions of big corporations ultimately impact everyone, and everything, that depends on the environment.