Educational Media Reviews Online

Waterlife is a visually spectacular and highly thought-provoking film about the desperate plight of North America’s Great Lakes, which hold one-fifth of the planet’s precious fresh water. Makers of this documentary present a cohesive, richly textured accounting of the many environmental problems affecting the lakes, and also the challenges faced by the thirty-five million people who live near them in both Canada and the United States.

The industrial histories of the lakes are presented in order from west to east—Superior to Ontario—following the natural course of their waters. Along the way, viewers witness the destructive impacts of human activity on the Great Lakes ecosystem, including on the humans who live in the region. Particular emphasis is given to the devastation wrought by industrial pollution and the introductions of invasive species. Demonstrating one of the documentary’s central points—that human maltreatment of the environment has untold consequences—the film’s journey ends where the Great Lakes spill into the St.Lawrence Seaway. Contaminants from the upstream lakes have decimated the resident beluga population, and field biologists assert that their bodies contain more toxins than any other mammals on Earth.

Albeit the message of Waterlife is a dire one, it is not presented in a heavy-handed manner. The makers of the film weave together with concise narration, subtly powerful interviews, stunning cinematography, and a smart soundtrack to appropriately say what needs to be said. The reviewer highly recommends this title for academic, public, and school library collections.

Awards

• 2009 Canadian New Media Award