Canadian documentarian Ian Connacher put a lot of effort into
learning about plastic for the appropriately named Addicted to
Plastic, and he wants us to know it. Why else would he start the
film with a list of impressive-sounding figures? (“Five continents; 12
countries; 160,000 kilometres…49 interviews; nine factories; six
landfills.”)
Connacher’s quest to learn more about everyone’s favourite
landfill-fillin’, non-biodegradable—and possibly
dangerous—substance does lead him down some fascinating paths.
We watch a collective in Kenya make lovely accessories from old
flip-flops, see a biologist dissect a poor sea bird’s plastic-filled
stomach, visit the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch—where a
Texas-sized patch of plastic drifts and collects barnacles—and meet
many fine folks working to manufacture various eco-friendly plastics.
But the film as a whole feels overstuffed and meandering.
Connacher seems unsure what plastic-point he most wants to make. He
admits he can’t fit all his talking heads in (so why bother telling us
about them) and then wastes time poking fun at (but still not
explaining) one scientist’s jargon-filled explanation—instead of, you
know, using one of his other 48 interviews instead.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2009.
