Documentary exposing ‘Big Oil’ toxic impact on communities screens at film festival

THE newly-released documentary, CRUDE: Wentworth Community vs Big Oil, will be showcased at this year’s Durban International Film Festival’s (DIFF) Isiphethu, set to take place at the KZNSA Gallery today, July 25.

Angelo Louw, the director said the documentary, which was made in partnership with Greenpeace Africa and International, exposed the toxic impact on Wentworth and surrounding communities due to the various ‘big oil companies’ that have encroached onto residential boundary lines over the past 60 years.

“The documentary details the shocking knock-on impact of air pollution in Wentworth, where epigenetic changes make community members prone to certain respiratory illnesses and traps them in a spiral of chronic poverty, substance abuse and gender-based violence.

“Furthermore, Wentworth residents have been resisting the surrounding fossil fuels companies for years, which regularly sideline them and erase them from decision-making while destroying their community,” he said.

Louw, the Greenpeace International content editor, said it took him about three months to conduct research for the documentary.

“Luckily, I was familiar with the area and the various issues that the residents faced. I also had relationships with activists for the community, such as Oliver Meth and Desmond D’Sa, who have been fighting against these oil companies for a very long time.

“For me, it was important to give these activists a platform to speak about their tireless work and how they have affected change,” he said.

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Louw added that he was happy that Durban residents would have an opportunity to see the documentary at the festival.

“Especially at a time when the most influential media players are around for the film festival. Hopefully, this screening will reignite interest in this story, and put more pressure on the government to restore justice in a community that has been exploited by the fossil fuels industry for decades,” he said.

The trailer can be viewed on Greenpeace Africa’s YouTube channel.

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