Everyday Activist - That Sugar Film

Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 at 07:00 PM

Review: That Sugar Film

Movie Review by Everyday Activist, CalgaryMovies.com

If you watched Fed Up, a US made documentary that played in Calgary theatres in Spring 2014, you’ll enjoy the Australian opinion on the sugar issue in That Sugar Film. Damon Gameau made some healthier choices upon meeting his girlfriend, including quitting smoking and eating healthier. The new eating regime meant no refined sugar. Much like Super Size Me, Damon, after three years of avoiding sugar, decides to become a human experiment, adding the average amount of sugar consumption back into his diet to see what happens to him. He has in his corner, health professionals to help him keep track of the changes and to identify foods that people think are healthy.

On his journey, he travels to a place in Australia that had high sugar consumption to document how education changed behavior and of course no documentary about sugar can avoid a trip to the US, where he discovered children as young as 3 drank enough mountain dew to rot their teeth. Shamefully, a University of Toronto scientist was on Coca Cola’s payroll defending sugar consumption and turning the obesity discussion into one of calories. Damon consumed about the same amount of calories, except the source was different and he still managed to gain weight in two months, keeping up the same level of activity.

My favorite part of the movie was near the end, when David Wolfe, a wholistic nutritionist, among others, talks about the emotional needs that sugar addresses, namely our need for sweetness in life. He even goes as far to say it’s a reflection of capitalism as we want everything quickly and having stuff often replaces love.

That Sugar Film is a cross between Super Size Me and Fed Up, with loads of great information and entertainment value. If you liked those movies you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Calgary Showtimes: That Sugar Film >

That Sugar Film >