SEPTEMBER FILM: In Theaters "FUEL"

[Scott Stead]

This is where we'll be discussing the film "FUEL". This film has won a lot of awards including the audience award for BEST DOCUMENTARY at Sundance. It goes beyond being a film about the global oil and global warming crisis - it's a film with a solution. We'll be heading out to see it here in DC today - September 19th - and I hope you'll do the same in your neck of the woods. So, get out there and support documentary film! Let us know what you thought of the film - here in the forum, because heck - what's a good documentary without a good discussion afterward!

[Scott Stead]

Hey all - another month and another 'green-centric' film. I hope you all don't mind - I'm glad to switch it up next month - but there wasn't much discussion in the way of films folks wanted to watch. On a whim - and per the suggestion of of member "Mary C." we rolled with it. Here's what I thought...

The film essentially was in two acts. The first act was about the films protagonist and director, Josh Tickell, who leads us through his journey to teach the world about alternative energy - bio diesel - to be exact. He travels back and forth across the country with his veggie van after finding himself disenchanted with the pollution caused by big oil in Louisiana (his mother's home town, and where he grew up after relocating from Australia). He comes off as an impassioned and intelligent young man with a mission. He wants to do good. He wants to change the world...and then...

Act 2: Fuels from food sources (ethanol, bio-diesel, etc.) are labeled as bad by the press, by governments, by organizations. They fall out of favor with the world as having the potential to help cause food shortages, etc. So he says, "Was all of my work for nothing?" So he breaks down for us what we need to do. It's not just veggie oil, it's not just bio-diesel - he breaks down the many, many types of renewable energy that we need to develop as a country to turn away from our addiction to oil.

He brings science, passion, and understanding to the film. His thoughtfulness and research make this a film worth seeing - as does his personal character. It's a personal battle for him and clearly so.

One thing I did catch in the premiere at E St. was the blatant misspelling of "Monsanto" about 5 feet tall spelled M-O-N-S-A-N-T-A. oops

I recommend checking it out. I know there are a lot of films out there right now about the environment - but this one hit home with me for the personal story, combined with the basic breakdown of the technologies, and the overall arc of the film. I personally drive a diesel and this has again stirred in me the quest for bio-diesel for my car. It's not perfect - but it's a small step. Curses - that bio-diesel is so hard to find int he DC area. Last I checked a year or two ago one had to drive to Baltimore to get it.

Did you see the film? What did you think?

Cheers,
Scott Stead
www.scottstead.com
www.documentaryclub.org