There's Something in the Water

There's Something In The Water, a riveting documentary released in 2019, throws a harrowing spotlight onto issues surrounding environmental racism in Canada. The film, directed by Elliot Page and Ian Daniel, sheds light on the struggles of people of color and indigenous communities that are disproportionately impacted by hazardous environs due to policies perpetuated by racial discrimination. Elliot Page, fondly remembered for their roles in Juno and X-Men, coaxes this venture beyond just cinematography, and marches it into the realm of activism. The movie takes its name from the heralded book by sociologist Ingrid Waldron, also featured in the movie, being one of the key voices exploring environmental racism in Nova Scotia.

At its heart, There's Something In the Water is a socio-political plea for justice, amplifying the Achilles' heel issues that many politicians and policy makers shirk away from or underplay. The ongoing suffering of minority communities, stoically living with contaminated water, toxic waste, and dangerous byproducts of industrial operations, is unflinchingly laid bare as the documentary unfolds.

Page and Daniel’s movie forms a compelling narrative, layering multiple stories of the afflicted communities, their lives turned upside down by the infiltration of dangerous industries into their habitats. At the forefront, is the bracing narrative of Louise Delisle of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, crusading against a toxic landfill that has consumed a black community for decades. Her story sets a somber tone of resistance and resilience, as she and her community grapple with health crises – cancers, miscarriages and asthma, the stark realities of these environmental disasters.

The film hauls you across Nova Scotia, from a Pictou Landing Native Reserve where the Northern Pulp Mill has left a legacy of harmful effects to the waters of Boat Harbour, to the harrowing plight of the residents of Stewiacke battling against the Alton Gas project which threatens to pump brine into their local river system. The fierce struggle of indigenous women ardently fighting against such corporations, defending their lands, health, and community is stitched together into a compelling narrative.

It is not just the content that captures attention, but the form it takes. There's Something In The Water presents a visually impressive documentary that captures the pristine beauty of Nova Scotia, contrarily tainted by grotesque environmental disregard. It utilizes stirring visuals, built on the natural scenery of Nova Scotia, to contrast the environmental devastation laid onto these natural lands.

The accompanying interviews amplify the weight of the situation. Page plays a remarkable role, presenting just the right amount of understated empathy making each story personal. These interactions are punctuated with experts' insights, like that of Dr. Ingrid R. G. Waldron, author of the book the movie is based upon, adding a credible and scholarly dimension to the assertions made. Waldron elucidates the science behind environmental racism, as the film raises critical questions of social justice, human rights, and equality.

Screening at film festivals like the Toronto Film Festival and streaming globally on Netflix, There's Something In The Water has become a powerful catalyst for triggering conversations around environmental justice and its intersection with race. It exposes a seldom-considered aspect of discrimination, bringing this global issue to an engaged, international audience.

There's Something In The Water is not just a beautifully crafted documentary, but a call to action. It absconds from the serious yet silent routine of careful observation and adopts a poignant way to rally the audience into reassessment. It evokes an unsettling sense of injustice and implores its viewers to rethink the lines between environmental advocacy and social justice.

Powerful, stirring, and heartbreaking, There's Something In The Water is a masterclass of documentary filmmaking. It underlines how ecological devastation and racial discrimination are interdependent problems each amplifying the gravity of the other. If you yearn for a film experience that broadens your cultural understanding, stirs your conscience and makes you question universal inequity – this deeply impactful movie is just what you are looking for. Watch this gripping documentary, and brace yourself to step into the shoes of the unheard, the unseen and, often, the ignored.