Everyday Activist - Oil & Water (MLJFF 2015)

Posted on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 08:00 PM

Oil & Water

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

When it comes to activists, I definitely have a type. I like young, smart men who are not only good looking, but also work hard to change the world for the better. From my previous articles, I have a crush on Rob Stewart (Sharkwater and Revolution) and Kip Andersen (Cowspiracy). After watching Oil and Water I can add one more to the list. In November, the Marda Loop Justice Film Festival 2015 will welcome David Poritz, a Rhodes Scholar as well as President and Co-founder of Equitable Origin, which sets rules and guidelines for the oil industries in the Amazon. He co-stars with Hugo Lucitante, a young man who goes to the United States from the Amazon region to obtain a western education to help him develop the necessary leadership skills to lead his people.

The movie talks about these two young men as they grow up and how they follow their chosen path and how their paths eventually cross given that they are both working hard to save the Amazon. Much like fracking in Alberta and BC, Canadian companies heading south to drill for oil leave toxic waste for the local water systems to handle. Of course this leads to all kinds of ailments in the indigenous populations from rashes to cancer, forget the impacts on wildlife and their habitats. Because no one keeps an eye on these companies, they keep doing what’s easy versus what’s right. As a pre-teen, David Poritz became obsessed with the Amazon and those working to protect it. Later on as an adult, he co-founds a company to help mitigate the damage oil companies do when they drill.

Hugo Lucitante’s village is directly affected by the dumping of waste containing toxic chemicals, so his role is to provide a voice for his people in matters concerning the oil companies. Since his people, the Cofan, have invested many resources into his education they have high expectations for him. After graduating from school in the US, he comes back to live in the Amazon with his wife. This provides insight on how Cofan people live and the expectations a newlywed couple would have; from building a house to cooking dinner. Eventually they return to the US to further their education.

I loved how the directors wove the two separate stories together creating this amazing dichotomy of views from the US into the Amazon and from the Amazon into the US. This is one of my favorite documentaries of the festival. You can join me at the Marda Loop Justice Film Festival 2015 at 7:30 PM on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 at River Park Church. We’re going as a group from Calgary Movie Nights on Meetup.com.

Calgary Showtimes: Oil & Water >