A Plastic Ocean：A film review

Before reading

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and do the exercises.

Preparation task

Write the words in the correct groups.

dump filmmaker recycle documentary rubbish shot spoiler waste premiere reuse scene polluted

A Plastic Ocean is a film to make you think. Think， and then act. We need to take action on our dependence on plastic. We've been producing plastic in huge quantities since the 1940s. Drink bottles， shopping bags， toiletries and even clothes are made with plastic.__1__What happens to all the rest? This is the question the film A Plastic Ocean answers. It is a documentary that looks at the impact that plastic waste has on the environment. Unfortunately, the impact is devastating.

The film begins as a journey to film the largest animal on the planet， the blue whale. But during the journey the filmmakers (journalist Craig Leeson and environmental activist Tanya Streeter) made the shocking discovery of a huge， thick layer of plastic floating in the middle of the Indian Ocean.___2__In total， they visited 20 locations around the world during the four years it took them to make the film. The documentary premiered in 2016， and is now on streaming services such as Netflix.

It's very clear that a lot of research went into the film. There are beautiful shots of the seas and marine life.__3__We see how marine species are being killed by all the plastic we are dumping in the ocean. The message about our use of plastic is painfully obvious.

___4__In the second half， the filmmakers look at what we can do to reverse the tide of plastic flowing around the world. They present short-term and long-term solutions. These include avoiding plastic containers and “single-use” plastic products as much as possible.

Reuse your plastic bags and recycle as much as you can. The filmmakers also stress the need for governments to work more on recycling programmes， and look at how technology is developing can convert plastic into fuel.

We make a staggering amount of plastic. In terms of plastic bags alone， we use five hundred billion worldwide annually. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year， and at least 8 million of those are dumped into the oceans.__5__Once you've seen A Plastic Ocean， you'll realise the time is now and we all have a role to play.

Task 1

Fill in each blank with a proper sentence with those given below.

A. This prompts them to travel around the world to look at other areas that have been affected.

B. These are contrasted with scenes of polluted cities and dumps full of plastic rubbish.

C. We live in a world full of plastic， and only a small proportion is recycled.

D. The results are disastrous， but it isn't too late to change.

E. But the film doesn't only present the negative side.

Task 2

Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

1. We urgently need to ________________action about the plastic waste problem.

2. The hurricane had a devastating ________________on the island.

3. The filmmakers ________________a shocking discovery in the Pacific Ocean.

4. The answer was painfully ________________to everyone in the room.

5. Everyone has a ________________to play in this situation.

6. It's not too late to ________________the tide and fix the problem.

7. This is a short-________________solution. It won't work forever.

8. There is a staggering ________________of plastic in the world.

Discussion

What documentary films would you recommend?