Do you have a little extra time this holiday season free from classes, exams and Xmas overtime? With the chilly weather this time of year it's tempting to stay indoors and have a movie marathon with a warm cup of cocoa. Here is a list of thought-provoking, socially, politically and environmentally conscious films put together by our friends at Food and Water Watch for your viewing pleasure.
1. Gasland and Gasland 2: In this Oscar-nominated documentary, Director Josh Fox takes viewers on a cross-country journey to discover the hard, shocking truths behind the fracking boom that has swept across the United States. You'll be inspired to join up with activists opposing fracking to make a real difference!
2. 180 ° South: Part adventure story, part commentary on the contrast between consumerism and ecological conservation. 180 ° South is a beautifully shot documentary that will inspire your inner activist’s spirit. The film documents one curious man’s journey from California to the southernmost tip of South America – Patagonia – and provides insight into what it means to protect our most precious natural resources in an era of overconsumption.
3. Thank You For Smoking: Need a laugh? This brilliant satire provides a funny, yet grotesque image of what it’s like to lobby the government in support of a product that harms millions of people. Protagonist Nick Naylor is a lobbyist for the tobacco industry in Thank You For Smoking, but it’s not hard to imagine what people do to promote fracking and factory farms on the Hill. Would laugh if you didn't have to cry. So realistic.
4. Soylent Green:“What is the secret of Soylent Green?” This science fiction classic takes place in a dystopian future where, due to pollution and the consolidation of wealth, poverty is high and resources are restricted. When a new food supplement called Soylent Green becomes available, people start disappearing. It’s up to one detective to find the connection between the new food and the growing body count. And when you figure out the secret of Soylent Green, your perception of our ever-weakening food system will never be the same. Sci-fi? Sounds pretty possible to me.
5. Idiocracy: When a U.S. Army librarian wakes up 500 years in the future, he finds that public water has been replaced with an energy drink called “Brawndo.” It’s in water fountains and crop irrigation systems, and the government can’t do anything about it. Why? Because the Food and Drug Administration has been purchased by the Brawndo Corporation. Would be timely if energy drinks were called Nestle—don't you think?
Please add any favorites that didn't make the list in the comments. Pop some popcorn and enjoy!