by Jas Faulkner
Whether you are just getting to know the particulars of the green movement or trying to refine your ideas about specific concepts of eco-conscious living, finding information about sustainability can be daunting. Below is a list of ten great video introductions to some of the key concepts that have driven the movement in the last decade.
Many of these are available via online streaming. Some of these films have their own sites. I have also listed the websites that offer streaming feeds after the titles and have included links to those sites at the end of this article. If there is no site listed, that means the movies are available on disc only.
Food, Inc. (Top Documentary Films, Amazon, Netflix) When it was first released in 2008, many found this documentary to be shocking. This expose of the politics of food production and the commodification of the plant biology includes talking heads from commentators like Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle’. It is an excellent introduction to the scary reality behind the myths concerning food production in developed countries.
What Would Jesus Buy? (Top Documentary Films, Snagfilms, Amazon, Netflix) Reverend Billy (performance artist and activist, Billy Talen) and his busload of Merry Pranksters visit temples of modern consumerism all over the US. During the time he was followed by the filmmakers, he performed an exorcism on the Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas and anti-shopping sermons and carols at department stores and malls in December, created a stir at Disneyland, and challenged a group of teen girls to find out about the human cost of their mass produced clothing. Behind the goofy TV preacher trappings is a very serious message about the wasteful nature of consumer culture.
Living With Ed For three seasons, actor/activists Ed and Rachelle Carson Begley opened their lives to tv crews so they could demonstrate ways to incorporate environmentally responsible choices into every day life. Along for the ride were daughter Hayden, bent on keeping-up-with-the-Begleys neighbour Bill Nye, and a host of famous and should-be-famous Green movers and shakers. The first two seasons and a couple of companion books (Living Like Ed and Ed Begley’s Guide to Sustainable Living) are available. Light, funny, and thought provoking, this series is a great way to get that cranky skeptic in your life to give some serious thought to saving some green in every sense of the word.
Greasy Rider (Hulu, Snagfilms, Amazon) The sad irony of Greasy Rider is that the early prototypes were manufactured in one of the least Green-friendly states in the US. The film follows early adopters of the diesel cars with systems that allow them to run on cooking oil. While a french fry-mobile might not be the ultimate solution, this film presents an excellent example of how creative solutions to the problem of depleted resources can lead to thinking about bigger and better ideas. The gorgeous cross-country footage is another argument for checking out this compelling eco-odyssey.
King Corn (Hulu, Amazon, Netflix) King Corn focuses on one of the crucial talking points of Food, Inc., the power of the corn lobby to influence government subsidies and development dollars. The industry’s role in decimating the presence of multi-crop family farms cannot be understated and King Corn takes a hard look at the role non-food corn plays in American agriculture. As amusing as it can be at times, it is also an infuriating study of the corporatisation of a declining segment of North American culture.
Who Killed the Electric Car? (Top Documentary Films, Amazon) Once upon a time, some forward thinking auto execs signed off on the development and testing of an electric car. Prototypes were sent to people willing to promote the zero-emission vehicles that ran on rechargeable batteries. Months later, the cars were seized and disassembled. Accusations fly in this oral history of the change in car culture that might have been.
Fuel (Top Documentary Films, Hulu, Snagfilms, Amazon, Netflix) This flip, hip documentary feature is a crash course in where we’ve been and where we are going when it comes to our energy sources. The filmmakers don’t candy coat the sobering facts, but they don’t stint on ways to make learning them entertaining, either.
30 Days (Netflix) Morgan Spurlock’s series may not be specifically about the environment, but environmental issues as they are both affected by and effect change on the human condition play a big part in this series of one-off documentaries. The premise is simple, someone who is closely identified with one world view spends thirty days living the life of someone with a diametrically opposed viewpoint: a tech professional whose job is outsourced lives with a family in India, a conservative Christian from West Virginia spends time with a Muslim family in Dearborn, a Minute Man Supporter lives with a family of illegal aliens in Los Angeles, meat-eating bridge and tunnel types stay on a vegan commune. The results are often surprising and Spurlock uses a light hand in this series.
Affluenza (Top Documentary Films, Netflix) Created in the same style as “Atomic City” this arch, funny documentary uses vintage footage and commentary from various experts to illustrate the need for a more conscientious approach to First World consumerism.
Dirt! The Movie (Hulu, Amazon, Netflix) This study of the state of soil looks at a resource that is often taken for granted. A deft combination of Earth Science crash refresher and quick cram of the high points in conservationist thought, Dirt! is a a great intro for tweens and teens who might be curious about the subject. Grownups will enjoy the sometimes breezy approach to this serious subject as well. My only complaint is the overwhelming presence of talking heads. At their best, they offer sidebars that are fun and informative, at worst, there’s a little too much preaching to the choir about subjects that have already been addressed in the film.
Where to watch:
(Note, you may need to do a Google search of the film title + the site name to find the film. Not all internal site search engines seem to work.)
Top Documentary Films This website offers access to an impressive library of documentary films about a wide range of topics. Viewing is free but donations to keep the site going are welcome.
Snagfilms Snagfilms started out as a clearinghouse for progressive documentaries. The site has expanded to include classic films, documentaries on a wider range of topics and a great archive of historic features and series. Most if not all films are free.
Hulu Hulu offers a variety of movies and television shows on their streaming service.
Netflix Netflix offers a wealth of documentaries on environmental issues. Streaming is available for a low monthly fee.
Amazon Many of Amazon’s video-on-demand features are available at no additional charge for Prime members. They also have streaming videos available on an a la carte basis.
