Watermark

This Canadian documentary travels the globe to expose the various ways water is used in different regions and societies and how man-made projects might be harming the water systems.

The film's greatest strength is its photography. Some aerial views not only provide gripping images of natural beauty but also stunning images of dam projects and dried rivers.

Some commentaries are interesting but, by the end, it feels that there is rather a lack of a cohesive theme or outlook. Although it is best to leave the conclusions to the viewer, the film would have been more effective with a bit more general commentary to reach that conclusion. - dbamateurcritic.

Stunningly beautiful and powerful images highlight this examination of how mankind re-shapes water and how it flows – for good and ill, more often ill - and in turn how the water re-shapes civilization and human behavior.

There's no real story, just a series of visits to locations around the world where water powerfully interacts with humanity, like the pilgrimage of 30 million people to bathe in the Ganges river.

Without narration and a specific focus the film could be accused of being too diffuse. But for me the raw power of the images – Burtynsky is one of our greatest still photographers who has spent much of his career creating huge images of humans and nature clashing and interacting - give the piece a poetic, if not literal power and solidity.

Also, if the film is not enough, there's an almost 40 minute gallery of Burtynsky's amazing still images, which look great blown up on a HD set, as he explains the photographs and how they were taken. That extra alone is reason enough to own the blu-ray. It's like the world's best photography book, with the images at least a little closer in size to Burtynsky's massive prints.

I have recently watched two political documentaries. First, The Unknown Known. Second, Watermark.

The first one is about glorifying a psychopath. It tells of his exploits as he uses humanity as subjects of his experiments. Its only saving grace is its honesty as it is unquestionably political.

The second one is this one, Watermark, and it has absolutely none of this honesty. It is a documentary that uses the awesomeness of nature to disguise political propaganda. It is essentially babies and puppies. Cheap manipulation to sneak in an ideology.

A number of these "nature" documentaries is being made nowadays. Big, big, big money is being given to "friendly" folks in the movie industry. Pockets full of cash, they are taking their skills around the world (literally) and making visually high-quality films. Unfortunately, the price of this funding is a script that makes adults cringe.

Consequently, this kind of "nature" documentaries is meant to be played in mute. Mozart, Armstrong, (or Pink Floyd if that's your preference) are far superior material to listen to while enjoying the unspeakable magnificence of our planet.

Watermark is also boring at times. The political obsession coupled with a jejune understanding of society and culture compromises the choice of visual subject. If they cannot use as a weapon to hurl at you, they won't show it.

Slow doesn't describe this. Glacial... no, that's still too fast. Continental drift, that's the right speed.

If I could have watched this at 4x speed, I might have been able to make it through. At regular speed, 15 minutes was all I could stand. Others have said that the photography makes up for the shortfalls. I do not agree. Some of the sequences are nice, but where a 10 second clip would get across the message, the makers chose to put in a 60 second clip.

To sum up, this is a 15 or 20-minute short stretched to movie length.

With the many documentaries that are coming out lately you are used to a high quality. Being because they are funny or because they are very interesting. Unfortunately this ticks neither of those boxes correctly. It seems to wander around like water would once you spill it ... no clear direction.

I think there is a very good movie hidden somewhere, but it will be tough for you to find it. It's a shame, because quite a lot of people would interested in more specifics rather just some "nature videos" and a couple of hints here and there, what goes wrong. Just when you think it is heading the right direction, it swerves and goes "wrong" again ... Shame