Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: One Beautiful Day 2002
Distributed by Chip Taylor Communications, 2 East View Drive, Derry, NH 03038-4812; 800-876-CHIP (2447)
Produced by ABC Australia
Director n/a
VHS, color, 50 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Biology, Environmental Studies, Ecology, Geography
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Tara L. HurtAustralia’s Great Barrier Reef: One Beautiful Day is a well-organized documentary that captures Australia’s Great Barrier Reef through the eyes of individuals who have a unique connection to the reef and its inhabitants. The video is part of a series of documentaries that offer in-depth views of the island continent of Australia. The photography in the video is excellent and it offers the viewers a unique one of a kind experience with the barrier reefs and the marine life that inhabit the sea; the second best view of the reef short of actually finding scuba gear and jumping into the water.
The video’s biggest strength is that there is an excellent balance between live reef footage and dialogue; 99 % of the film is actual footage with short burst of dialogue added. This style allows the viewer to hear the ideas and concerns of the individuals while actually seeing examples of what they are talking about. The focus of the video is the conservation of the Great Barrier Reefs. The photography used support the arguments of both the reefs thriving existence and the reefs damage that has occurred over the years. The program takes an ‘inland out’ approach to studying the reefs and addresses many of the environmental and human factors affecting the reefs today (sediments, soil chemistry, oil spills, fishing).