Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig's debut feature is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water. From the producers of Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water. From the plastic production to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the unwitting chips on the table. A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught at the intersection of big business and the public's right to water.
Direction
Soechtig's debut packs investigative punch with relentless pacing.
Production
Chilling access to industry executives squirming on camera.
Director
Stephanie Soechtig
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the film hit when public trust in corporate America was already cratered — perfect timing for maximum outrage.
The film's examination of BPA in plastic bottles helped accelerate the industry shift to 'BPA-free' labeling, though critics argue replacement chemicals may be equally harmful.
US
