Metro Cinema Society: White Water, Black Gold

White Water, Black Gold

Canada 2011, 65 min, Digital, Dir: David Lavallee

An investigative point-of view documentary that follows David Lavallee on his three-year journey across western Canada in search of answers about the activities of the world's thirstiest oil industry: the Tarsands. Over the past 15 years David has worked in the Columbia Icefields of the Canadian Rockies, and has noticed profound changes in the mountains: climate change is rendering these landscapes unrecognizable. When he discovers that his province is ramping up growth in an extremely water intensive industry downstream of the icefields, he is surprised how little he knows about this industry. This necessitates a journey: from icefields to oilfields. A sober look at the untold costs (to water and people) associated with developing the second largest deposit of "oil" in the world.