Educational Media Reviews Online

The worsening effects of climate change continue to raise complex questions about the roles of individual and collective responsibility. Against the Tide explores climate impacts and their ethical dilemmas through Rakesh and Ganesh, two fishermen who are part of the Koli community on the coast of Mumbai. Each struggle to bring in enough fish to sustain their families, but while Rakesh adheres to traditional Koli practices, Ganesh has embraced technology. The film follows his decision to use LED light fishing, a practice that’s banned in India and other countries because of its severe impacts on marine life.

Crowded shots of boats hauling in fish from the water and rapid dialogue about money provide viewers with a sense of what Rakesh and Ganesh’s days are like. Their lives at home, while less busy, share the same tension as they struggle to afford their families’ needs. However, it’s the conversations between the two men that form the emotional core of the film. These are intimate moments, capturing their candor and care for one another, even as they argue. Rakesh points out the unfairness of LED fishing and the damages it causes to the ecosystem and to other fishermen. Ganesh counters that he’s not fishing in Rakesh’s spot but continues to push for him to join him in the deeper waters and learn “modern fishing.” Through these conversations viewers see the cascading effects of climate change, impacting not only sea levels, ocean temperatures, and fish populations, but also human relationships. The film prods at a contrast between tradition and modernity with LED fishing, but when neither man achieves the catch he hopes for this binary no longer works. The approach to fishing doesn’t matter much when there are no fish to catch.

Against the Tide can seem like a fable meant to address moral decisions surrounding climate change, but the truth of the matter is more complex. Ganesh isn’t a villain; he faces the same struggles as Rakesh, even if he has better means to do so. Rakesh decides not to use his friend’s boat, but as he contemplates this choice, he sees it may not even be a viable option for him. These dilemmas provide space for viewers to contemplate what accountability, responsibility, and climate justice should look like on large and small scales.

The film would be an interesting addition to classes exploring environmental ethics and climate justice. The late-night discussions between the two friends, as well as vignettes with their families, provide fodder for classroom discussion that could easily complement other learning materials. A robust discussion guide from PBS’s POV showcase illuminates the film’s cultural and ecological backdrop and includes resources for further learning. Against the Tide is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.

Awards:
Winner, World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award: Vérité Filmmaking, Sundance; Winner, UN Perception Change Award, Visions du Réel; Winner, Best Documentary Award, Iceland Documentary Film Festival; Winner, Warsaw & Poznan City Award, Millennium Docs Against Gravity; Winner, Grand Jury Award, Seattle International Film Festival; Winner, Best Documentary, International South Asian Film Festival

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