Concrete Playground

"I'm not pessimistic" filmmaker Josh Fox says in his opening line of narration. Just how on earth he can remain so in the face of the devastating realities he uncovers in his debut documentary GasLand is anyone's guess. Having been approached by a natural gas company willing to pay $100,000 to drill on his family's land, Fox started asking around; his questioning taking him on the most surprising and downright outrageous journey across America and into the dark heart of the natural gas industry.

The situation really needs to be seen to be believed — and in that vein, GasLand is absolutely required viewing, especially as there are drilling plans here in Australia. But here are a couple of pearlers to get your ire on the rise: the American natural gas industry does not have to abide by environmental legislation including the Clean Water Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act. And considering the process of hydraulic fracturing (or fracking*) used to release underground gas reserves requires a secret concoction of 596 chemicals and millions of litres of water, this is a diabolical state of affairs indeed. GasLand chronicles the damning results: sick families, poisoned wells and flammable tap water.

Wielding a banjo and a lyrical sensibility, Fox transforms his documentary into more than a provocative call to arms; this is documentary as poetry. Sure The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is evoked, but with his beautifully subjective camera and measured, poignant narration, Fox proves himself as much an artist as an important and powerful voice that joins the choir of filmmakers daring to declare such inconvenient environmental truths.

So how precious is water to you? And even if you're a glass-half-full kind of person, does it count if the water is flammable? Ahead of GasLand's release on November 18, Josh Fox is in Australia for a series of Q&A screenings, so don't miss the opportunity to see this fantastic documentary and talk to the man who demands to protect the water everywhere, especially the drops we drink.

*Anyone who has seen Battlestar Galactica will no doubt agree the situation is fracked in both senses of the term.

Sydney Q&A screenings:
Wednesday 10 November at Palace Verona
Thursday 11 November at the Chauvel
Friday 12 November at Palace Norton Street