In his Plastic Planet, Werner
Boote illustrates how plastic products have become essential in our everyday
lives despite recent proof of its toxicity. I believed this subject deserved to
be treated and I was impatient to see how Boote had addressed it in his
documentary.
At the beginning of his film, W. Boote captivated me as he described the
history of plastics and the role they now played in the world trade. These
first minutes are practically unmarked by his personal biases and are charged
with information. Unfortunately, the director seems to quickly change the
structure of his documentary in its second half.
Quickly, Boote depicts all plastic-based products as the burden of
society and an overwhelming threat to global health. His narration is characterized
by one-sided comments such as “Plastic: the invisible danger.” At the same
time, W. Boote only provides short insights of experiments conducted by
independent researchers on plastic’s toxicity. In fact, most arguments in Plastic Planet are illustrated
superficially. Scenes such as the short shots of a plastic-mummification
company leave viewers disappointed and confused.
Though he might be facing convincing evidence that proves his theory, I
think Werner Boote didn’t make the most convincing choice. I suspect an
objective film presenting the tests conducted by both parties would have better
supported his claims.
Among the documentaries we have seen so far, Werner Boote's Plastic
Planet disappointed me the most. At first I was fascinated by the focus of
the film, the importance and potential threats of plastics in our consumer
societies. However, Boote’s attitude and his superficial presentation of
certain arguments left me disappointed.
If you would like to experience another perspective on the affects of
plastic waste in the world, I recommend Waste
Land. This documentary is an account of visual artist Vik Muniz’s work with
pickers in the world’s largest landfill in Brazil. Waste Land brings a humanitarian dimension to Werner Boote’s theme.
Thanks for the recommendation! I agree that Boote could have made his argument more valid. This issue is one that the public should know about. Personally, I would have liked to see the plastic company's side and information but, sadly, he did not have access to that resource.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you began viewing the documentary with an open mind, willing to learn. You took a very fair approach to Plastic Planet, though you were disappointed. I thought you articulately expressed why what you witnessed fell short of your expectations. I agree that Boote's perspective was limited to his opinions and perhaps it would have made more of an impression had he provided statistics and information from the opposing side.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I have trouble enjoying films that are blatantly biased, such as Plastic Planet. I, too, thought the film had really great potential but left me feeling uninspired. I wasn't very convinced by the science he presented. Maybe it was the animation, or maybe it was just the undeniable bias that he didn't try and hide. I found myself craving a more satisfying, well-rounded documentary, so maybe I'll have to check Waste Land out. Thanks for sharing!
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