Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a provocative and striking 2013 American documentary. It features the passionate investigative journalism of multi-talented Angela Sun, and illuminating interviews with enviromental scholars including Lewis Goldsmith and Wallace J. Nichols. Directed by Angela Sun herself, this film probes deeply into a problem lurking beneath the surface of our vast oceans, unearthing a sobering reality concerning the ecological future of our planet.

The title refers to the fabled floating mass of plastic trash known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also referred as the Pacific trash vortex. A remote expanse of the Pacific Ocean where myriads of plastic debris have accumulated due to the ocean currents, it's an issue that seems abstract and far removed from people's daily lives. However, as the film unveils, the effects of this far-off garbage dump are more immediate and threatening than they might look at first glance.

Angela Sun, the intrepid journalist and passionate surfer, embarks on a compelling journey across the globe to shed light on the great volume of plastic pollution cluttering our seabeds and beaches. Sun starts her inquisitive adventure by travelling to Midway Atoll, a remote location in the Pacific Ocean considered to be an epicentre of the disaster. It's an area tormented not only by the historical echoes of World War II but also by the environmental catastrophe silently nesting on its shores. Here, Sun meets with knowledgeable scientists, researchers, and environmental activists who share alarming details about the environmental toll of the plastic industry.

Also featuring interviews from marine biologists and oceanographers like Lewis Goldsmith and Wallace J. Nichols, the film offers the audiences an access to a deep pool of expert knowledge. Together, they unveil the scale and implications of the environmental crisis, in the light of broader systemic issues of our disposable consumer culture.

Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not just a film about plastic. It’s a thought-provoking investigation into how the so-called 'convenience' of the plastic-consuming lifestyle is devastating our environment and threatening marine life, as well as human health. It's an eye-opening exposé highlighting the gargantuan problem of non-degradable plastics and the daunting reality of a world drowning in its own plastic waste.

In a world accustomed to disposable convenience, this film aims to interrogate and challenge our own notions of necessity and consumerism. It exposes us to the stark reality of a world where plastic, initially introduced as a miracle material, has gradually morphed into an ecological nightmare caused by overuse and reckless disposal.

Sun dissects the issue of plastic pollution in a layered manner, integrating the hefty economic, political, and social aspects that contribute to it. She further communicates the profound consequences of these undying materials, which not only pollute our oceans and threaten wildlife but also infiltrate the food chain, potentially causing hazardous health effects on us, humans too.

Moreover, the film does a commendable job in illustrating how plastic pollution is a universal problem, not confined to a particular island in the Pacific. It explains how sea currents carry debris from far and wide, causing a devastating impact on the remote Midway Atoll, which is over two thousand miles away from the nearest continent. The remoteness of this location, however, does not absolve it from the global repercussions of our rampant use of plastic.

But the documentary is not just a lament about the current state of affairs. Angered by the scale and severity of the problem, Sun seeks solutions, exploring efforts to employ technology and change policies to tackle it. It also serves as a call to action, appealing to each viewer’s sense of responsibility, making us question our own consumption habits.

Overall, Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a profound and impactful documentary that offers a sobering look at the environmental catastrophe that mankind has caused over the years. It's a must-watch for anyone concerned about the health of our planet and its future generations. Combining canny journalism with passionate activism, this documentary makes us contemplate how the conveniences of today can turn into the calamities of tomorrow if we do not act conscientiously.