Ayo Johnson - 10 April 2003 - Bermuda - Drowned Out -
'Drowned Out' flows
Publication: The Royal Gazette
Documentaries rarely, if ever, come better than this. It is impossible to overstate that this 75 minute documentary is absolutely required viewing. You must see this film.
Drowned Out tells a tragic story that will inspire, disturb and anger you at the same time.
Beautifully shot, perfectly paced, thoughtful, articulate and intelligent, it has a strong point of view, but director Franny Armstrong has made the very wise choice of not shoving it in your face from the start. Instead it flows and builds in a thoroughly engrossing and calm manner.
A family of Adivasis (indigenous Indians) examine their options and decide to stay in their village and drown rather than make way for an ambitious and severely flawed mega dam project.
The film is a record of their struggle and a movement to stop the project, against overwhelming odds.
So watch this film and get a fresh perspective on genocide.
It could have been so different - patronizing, shrill, hysterical, condescending. But clearly Armstrong and her editors, Gregers Sall and St John O'Rorke are made of more sensible stuff.
After my first viewing, Drowned Out reminded me why real documentary filmmakers go through all that trouble, pain and uncertainty to capture and tell a story.
BIFF audiences will learn much from Drowned Out - about human suffering, dignity and courage, the frightening realities of poverty in the face of overwhelming power and a lot else.
But the real power of this film is that it will make you want to act on behalf of people not normally within your sight lines. It will make you care.
