PeÅ Holmquist and Suzanne Khardalian's colorfully titled documentary introduces viewers to environmental activist Vandana Shiva, who spends much of her time crusading against proponents of globalization, companies marketing genetically-modified foods, and multinational corporations whose activities she believes are responsible for pollution on a mass scale. The filmmakers followed Shiva for a period of two years, documenting her confrontations with these supposed malefactors and assembling clips featuring testimony from her adversaries as well as her supporters. The film's title derives from an “award” given Shiva by one Barun Mitra, a lobbyist who claims that in pressing her cases she has relied on misleading or factually incorrect data and even outright lies. Mitra is hardly a neutral observer, but in truth it's difficult to believe all of Shiva's claims, or to conclude that she wouldn't like to reverse decades of technological advances in favor of a more primitive means of feeding an overpopulated planet. Still, the activist comes off as a fascinating figure here, as well as an indefatigable advocate for her cause. Recommended, overall. Aud: C, P. (E. Hulse)
Bullshit
(2005) 73 min. DVD: $99.95: public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. The Cinema Guild. PPR. Color cover. Volume 21, Issue 5
Bullshit
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