The Ground Between Us is an amazing documentary that comes with interesting images and striking sound bites. It takes many turns of events as the filmmaker interviews individuals in various parts of the United States concerning the use of unsustainable natural resources.
The directors of the film Zeppelin Zeerip and Galen Knowles have an excellent grasp of nature photography as they explore the majestic lands spread around the states of Alaska, Utah, and Oregon. The educational documentary interviews people who fight against the exploitation of forests and land resources. The Alaskan interviewees complain about the public land being used for oil drilling, and the residents of the Utah Bears Ear area oppose the act of giving the region a monumental status and the Oregonian forest from logging.
The first storyline takes place in Arctic Village, Alaska. Much of the region has been quite fruitful for oil and gas production, which is beneficial for the entire US economy. The Trans-Alaska pipeline is a bold sign of America's commitment to profit from the major exploration. The extraction of oil and gas is Alaska's dominant sector and is critical to the state's economy. Nonetheless, climate change is accelerating there faster than in most other locations.
Every area of America has its own ways of making a livelihood off the land. The question is whether it is possible to strike a balance between profitable land utilization and resource sustainability.
Taking up most of the film is timbering in Oregon and livestock ranching in Utah. Both are based on public property and zooming it down to the small owners. The tensions caused by conflicting forces pose a challenge for the households in each situation.
These tensions have been experienced by the residents for a long time. They include government and private interests in the resources, conflicts between preservation and utilization, and threats to the ecosystem versus improving the local economy through the resources. The film intelligently lets these themes play out from the realities of people and societies under strain by negotiating a neutral route between opposing fronts. There are no observable remarks made by the filmmakers.
Each of the household groups is treated kindly, regardless of where they stand. However, the dynamics at work are evident. The shifting waves of political risk effect lives permanently as public land usage makes headlines throughout America.
What library collection of films can this documentary be classified under?
This film is more focused on the use of natural resources around three states in the US. It can be classified under environmental conservation collection because its storyline lets interviewees show their concerns about using natural resources.
Which college majors can use this title?
This educational documentary would be suitable in classrooms for environmental majors or subjects because it shows how different resources can gain conflicting interests.