GasLand Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A guy gets a suspicious offer to let gas companies drill on his land, so he drives around the country lighting people’s tap water on fire to prove a point.

🍿 GasLand: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Lucrative Offer

The documentary begins with Josh Fox receiving a substantial offer from a natural gas company to lease his land in Pennsylvania for drilling. Intrigued and concerned, he sets out to investigate the potential impacts of this practice known as fracking. This sets the stage for his journey across the United States.

Journey Across America

Fox travels to various states, including Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas, to interview residents living near fracking sites. He uncovers alarming stories of water contamination, health problems, and environmental damage. These personal accounts reveal the devastating consequences of fracking on local communities.

Flammable Tap Water

One of the most shocking discoveries is that residents in certain areas can light their tap water on fire due to methane contamination from fracking. This visual evidence highlights the severe pollution of water supplies and the potential dangers faced by those living near drilling operations.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Josh Fox (Josh Fox): As the writer, director, and protagonist, he investigates the environmental impacts of fracking across America.
• Dick Cheney (Dick Cheney): Appearing in archive footage, he represents the political influence that enabled the expansion of fracking.
• Aubrey K. McClendon (Aubrey K. McClendon): As a prominent figure in the natural gas industry, he embodies the corporate interests driving fracking.
• Pat Fernelli (Pat Fernelli): A resident affected by fracking, he illustrates the personal impact of environmental contamination.
• Weston Wilson (Weston Wilson): As an EPA whistleblower, he provides crucial insights into the regulatory failures surrounding fracking.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Josh Fox: “Can you light your water on fire?” – The central question of the film, asked repeatedly as he investigates the effects of fracking on water supplies.
• Resident: “(Witnessing flaming tap water) It’s like living in a science fiction movie.” – Expressing disbelief and shock at the contamination of their water source.
• Josh Fox: “This is America, and we’re supposed to have clean water.” – Stating the basic right that is being violated by the fracking industry.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $30,846
• Worldwide Gross: $49,428

💥 GasLand Reviews

Personal Review

I found GasLand to be a real eye-opener. The visuals of the flaming tap water were disturbing and unforgettable, and it made me think twice about where our energy comes from. The film makes me question the safety of fracking and the regulations surrounding it. It’s a must-see for anyone concerned about environmental issues.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Environmental activists”
  • “Documentary enthusiasts”
  • “Those interested in energy policy”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Discussion of environmental damage”
  • “Depiction of health issues”
  • “Strong language”

Professional Reviews

• iHeartFilms.weebly.com: “A shocking and disturbing film revealing the impact of natural gas drilling on communities across the US. While the camera work is shaky at times, the personal stories of contaminated water and health issues are powerful and moving, showcasing a David vs. Goliath struggle against corporate interests.
• N/A: “GasLand is pure propaganda filled with misinformation about hydraulic fracturing. For a comprehensive exposure of this fact, watch the documentary ‘FrackNation’ by Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney.
• N/A: “An informative documentary that should be required viewing before anyone signs a gas lease. This movie has the potential to harm those living in the region but the entire watershed, which involves millions of people in NYC, Philadelphia, NJ and DC.

Audience Reactions

The burning water is a powerful visual that stays with you.: Viewers were shocked by the real-life consequences of fracking on communities.

Overall Consensus: GasLand is a controversial documentary that ignited debate about the environmental impacts of fracking, praised for raising awareness but criticized for potential inaccuracies.

Awards

1. Sundance Film Festival (Special Jury Prize)- 2010

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Josh Fox, the director, received a letter offering him money to lease his land for drilling, which sparked his investigation and led to the creation of the film.”
• “The film’s low-budget, guerilla filmmaking style contributed to its raw and urgent feel, reflecting the real-life struggles of the affected communities.”
• “Some of the water samples shown in the film were independently tested and revealed the presence of chemicals used in the fracking process.”
• “Dick Cheney’s role in exempting fracking from the Safe Drinking Water Act became a central point of criticism and controversy surrounding the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch GasLand?

GasLand is available for streaming on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video. You can also find it for purchase or rental on iTunes, Google Play, and other digital retailers. Check your local cable provider for on-demand options as well.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed GasLand, you might like these similar films:

• Erin Brockovich (2000): Both films explore the theme of corporate malfeasance impacting public health and the environment, with an ordinary individual fighting against a powerful corporation.
• An Inconvenient Truth (2006): Addresses environmental concerns through investigation, aiming to raise public awareness and inspire action on a specific issue.
• Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006): Examines the suppression of an environmentally friendly technology by powerful corporate interests.

🛒 GasLand Related Products

• Gasland [Blu-ray]: Own the shocking documentary that exposed the truth about fracking.
• Environmental Science: A Global Concern: Environmental Science helps students connect to today’s environmental issues. While the focus is on the general concepts, specific case studies are included as well.
• FrackNation [Blu-ray]: See the opposing view with this documentary, a rebuttal to Gasland’s claims about fracking.
• GasLand Part II: Sequel to GasLand.

🎧 Soundtrack

GasLand features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Nirvana” – performed by Jacob Ter Veldhuis (as Jacob TV)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

FrackNation – Why and How It’s Being Made

Ever wondered what the other side of the ‘GasLand’ story looks like? This video dives into the creation of ‘FrackNation’, a documentary made to counter the claims in ‘GasLand’. It’s a fascinating look behind the scenes!

Documentaries That Lied To You

Have you ever wondered if a documentary you watched was telling the whole truth? This video exposes documentaries that have been accused of bending the facts, and it might even talk about ‘GasLand’! It definitely makes you question what you see on screen.

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