A Plastic Ocean

“Shock” is the only word that applies to seeing the astonishing amount of plastic fragments jammed into the stomachs of dead seabirds in this unnerving documentary from Australian journalist Craig Leeson. A Plastic Ocean serves up a startling, sweeping investigation into the very real costs of filling Earth's oceans with plastic products, from water bottles to grocery bags to shards from a million different items that are made from oil- and chemical-based products. The film begins with a spectacular visual ode to gracefully moving blue whales, followed by the sad news that one beached whale has died from having ingested yards of plastic sheeting. Leeson presents evidence that our oceans have become garbage dumps for plastics—primarily from Asian countries but compounded by the West as well. The result is not just the awful optics of floating plastic, but the destruction of sea life, as well as entire industries that depend on fishing. Nightmarish images show birds vomiting up plastic pellets and edible fish made poisonous from swallowing packing materials. Leeson does offer some hope, pointing out successful efforts to properly recycle plastic, but there's no question that it will take a reduction in consumer dependence on plastic (and a countering of the political clout of manufacturers) to ever win this uphill battle. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)