Educational Media Reviews Online

Cheat Neutral, a slight but rich documentary, follows the creators of a hoax movement that purports to “offset” sexual infidelity. Viewers observe two of the originators of the movement, initially on a London street, interviewing passersby and questioning them on the benefits of paying a small fee, which will serve to “offset” their infidelity as the money would be paid to monogamous couples.

In a “man on the street” narrative fashion that is certainly familiar to many viewers, various individuals react differently to the proposition, though most immediately recognize the ludicrousness of the premise. Throughout the film, the impacts of “Cheat Neutral” are shown at higher levels, such as within the print and audio media, as well as a mention within the British Parliament (!). Naturally and with little probing, the protagonists are more than happy to explain that this principle of “offsetting” is, of course, idiotic, but that such silliness extends to a most commonly proposed and apparently embraced form of “offsetting” in the Western world today: carbon offsetting.

The tenets of this rather intellectually shaky environmental movement are, argue the creators of the film, analogous to such a foolish notion as “offsetting” one’s infidelity. And while viewers might argue that the analogy is nowhere near absolute, in an entertaining and edifying way the filmmakers prove their point well: The Western movement to continue using natural resources only to “outsource” environmental reparations is, in its way, ultimately as socially useless and inherently silly as foisting one’s marital cheating off on others.

Cheat Neutral, though, reveals much more than the purported absurdity of carbon offsetting. The participants are seen reacting to print coverage of their hoax, participating in radio interviews, on television, and, as mentioned, having their movement brought up in the British House of Commons. In the last instance, the MP (thankfully) emphasizes that “Cheat Neutral” is a hoax, though this is not made clear by other (unknowing?) media outlets. For example, a popular American radio host has the filmmakers interviewed along with truly ridiculous and sensationalistic guests, to their amused dismay. Further references to the movement in the media will surely give viewers pause in considering the power of the media and, in fact, how the media might distort actual events as well as uncritically report fads and unscientific proposals as fact.

The filmmakers’ website reflects the tone of the film perfectly; and the banner line at the page’s top, reading “Helping you because you can't help yourself,” is evocative of their real and obvious passion, but also their sense, perhaps, of the absurdity of their cause’s detractors—or, perhaps better, those who believe, as they clearly do not, that the “offsetting” of anything might be an acceptable alternative to simply cutting emissions. (Amusingly, while they and their website make it clear that they are participating in something of a hoax, there is a PayPal account up for those who really might believe that they can somehow offset their cheating. The cost is about five dollars.)

And these participants are surely in the spirit of great (though sometimes somewhat unverifiable) hoaxes—harmless tricks that deeply underscore an important cause or social notation. (One might be reminded, for instance, of the “dangers” of dihydrogen monoxide—a long-running urban legend that underscores only the facts that this chemical is simple water and that people can be led astray by poor investigation of facts.) On those terms, Cheat Neutral is a raucously filmed and edifying look into the story of a hoax, but also the thought and important global point behind it.

Notably, the film’s website contains useful links for students interested in carbon offsetting and the scientific argument against it. Too, the site offers a five minute version of the film (which is substantially no different from the longer version), though this link is inoperable as of this writing. Too, the DVD has a censored version available, though there are only a few swear words and it is obvious what is being said under the “bleeping.”

For high school to adult audiences interested in environmental and media studies, Cheat Neutral is highly recommended.

Awards

• Audience Award, Cambridge International Film Festival, UK
• Audience Award, Colchester International Film Festival, UK
• Best Documentary, Canary Wharf Film Festival, UK
• Best Documentary, Heart of Gold International Film Festival, Australia
• Best Documentary, Rushes Soho Shorts, UK
• Short Film Award, The Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival, New Zealand