FILM: Living Downstream
FILMMAKER: Chanda Chevannes
REVIEWER: Becky Beamer
Based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Living Downstream is an eloquent and cinematic feature-length documentary. This poetic and character-driven film follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.
I am so glad that I took the time to attend D.C’s Environmental Film Festival’s Bonus Day on April 25th. I saw a film that was very special. My glowing review starts with the first scene – The opening scene visuals are thoughtful and the narration is extremely well written. The open also happens to be part of the trailer so I don’t feel like disclosing the narration (below) will be any kind of spoiler …
There was once a village overlooking a river.
The people who lived there were very kind.
These residents, according to parable, began noticing increasing numbers of drowning people caught in the river’s swift current. And so they went to work devising ever more elaborate technologies to resuscitate them.
So preoccupied were these heroic villagers with rescue and treatment that they never thought to look upstream to see who was pushing the victims in.
This film is a walk up that river. The river of human cancer.
Finally, Doc&aDrink has experienced an intelligent Host-Main Character. The documentary was filled with beautifully – well composed landscapes and solid science. Simplicity & Style of the visuals just works. The B Roll was clean and deliberate. My favorite scene was the beluga whales. The scene included beluga dissection in the name of science. It was raw and interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it – effective.
For all those who were wondering – the screening was free and the location was wonderful. Please keep an eye out for the festival next year.
It was well attended and the audience included Senator John Kerry.
Final Thought : STAY TUNED FOR KATY’S INTERVIEW WITH THE FILMMAKER!
5 out of 5 Cheers.
-b.b
Doc & a Drink 