MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES

Where does all of our stuff come from? And where does it go?

The documentary Manufactured Landscapes offers some answers. The film shows you a vast Chinese plant that makes something. It shows you another place where people recycle thrown-away-stuff by hand--at risk to themselves and the environment. (That's something that blew away the director, Jennifer Baichwal.) It shows you a big ship being made...and it shows you a very different location where people take apart big ships. And damn if it doesn't show you one big goddamn dam.

I think the editing could be better and the "narrative" more revealing. But Manufactured Landscapes, which revolves around the photography of Edward Burtynsky, does achieve an important documentary goal--showing you significant things about the world that you might not know about otherwise. It reminds me of the classic Life magazine (which featured a picture of another big dam on its very first cover). If you care about this kind of thing, set aside some time to see the movie--if not at a theater (such as the Film Forum, where I heard director Baichwal speak), then via video.

At least watch the trailer.



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