The Plastic Problem

If the goal of Plastic Planet director, Werner Boote, was to shock, worry, and disturb his audience, he has succeeded. I’d heard before about plastic leaching when exposed to high temperatures, or about it being unsafe to microwave Tupperware, but this documentary gave me a new frightening awareness. According to the information shown, no kind of plastic has actually been deemed safe. There were traces of mercury found in some, and carcinogens in others. Not only does plastic pollute our environment – as we have always been taught in school – but it also pollutes our bodies. While watching the film, I found myself searching my surroundings to see what plastic was in my presence. The magnitude to which plastic is used in creating commonplace items is incredible.

There is clear bias in this film and it is plain to see its aim is to frighten its audience into action. In the very first line of the film, Boote says, “I would’ve loved to start my film about plastic with a helicopter flight over nothing but pure, untouched nature, only there isn’t any untouched nature left on earth anymore.” Immediately the audience knows what sort of a film they are about to view. There are several shots where an overwhelmingly negative discovery about plastic is being discussed while the director and current guest sit in a spot of natural beauty. The juxtaposition of the two elements made an impression. It supports Boote’s goal of enforcing the seriousness of this issue. This all being said, I don’t mind the bias. I don’t feel as if I am being shown narrow information that may or may not be relevant to the overarching concept. I found the director’s choice of interviewees discerning and credible and the points made to be valid.

It is frightening to think that unbeknownst to the majority of the population, the everyday plastic we use is an insidious killer. Its also appalling to see how many companies are willing to ignore this information when their financial welfare rests upon the success of the industry. Perhaps they, like I, are overcome and don’t know how to begin reacting properly. The information is almost too much to handle, much like the information provided by other films exploring ideas surrounding human impact on our species and the environment. I’m left feeling like nothing I do will make a difference, because the problem is so huge. I feel intimidated by the issue at hand and worried about how my habits may be negatively affecting my own life. Though clearly Boote was personally invested in this cause because of his grandfather’s work in the field, it is definitely something impacting our whole society and needs to be taken seriously.