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| Movie Review: Manufactured Landscapes Alternate Title: Rape the Land: Buy More Crap
Story: What do you get when
three artists with a vision get together to document what humankind
has done to this planet? In this case it is both a beautiful demonstration
of how art can be a powerful statement and at the same time be aesthetically
mesmerizing. Documentarian Jennifer Baichwal directs Toronto based
still photographer Edward Burtynsky. His career has
led him towards the vision of shooting decaying landscapes caused by
our need to scour the earth for its precious minerals, coal and oil
to keep the industrial world moving and conspicuously consuming. There
is one magical scene that will have you swearing off ever using an iron
again. Cinematographer Peter Mettler rounds out the
trio with his soaring sweeps of this decaying planet. Most of the film takes place is China where we send our recyclables
such as e-waste, heavy metals and toxic parts. China in turn disassembles
these non-usables, reconfigures it all and sends us back more crap to
buy. The karmic irony is that we send them poison and they repackage
it and send the poison back to us in another form. The monumental holes, gashes and patterns in the earth that is being
ravaged is visually abstract when viewed as still photos. The politics
in the film are implied. You get from it whatever you can but there
is no way you can leave the theater without feeling something - and
it is not a good feeling. You also do not want to buy anymore crap. Acting: It is a documentary - not applicable.
Predilection: I like documentaries and I like art.
Blatant Product Placement: There were many products
being assembled in the massive Chinese factories but for the most part
you could not tell which parts were being assembled for what product.
Soundtrack: Very moving.
Opening Titles: There is an eight minute tracking
shot filmed in a factory that is a thing of abstract beauty.
Visual Art: Sadly, much of what we see is beautiful
but deadly.
Theater Audience: Six men and us.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: Watching the Chinese and Bangladesh
workers toil without any protective gear in these toxic pools is very
squirmy indeed.
Drift Factor: I was riveted throughout.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Perhaps
Soap Box: See above statement about karmic toxins.
Big Screen or Rental: Hope you can find this on the
big screen because the effect will be more powerful. Length: 90 minutes.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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