On April 20, 2010 deep in the Gulf of Mexico one of the biggest oil disasters of our time occurred. The Deepwater Horizon rig, leased by BP, exploded and dumped countless gallons of oil into the ocean, washing up onto beaches all along the south coast.
Originally from Louisiana, filmmaker Josh Tickell and his wife Rebecca decided to travel down and see the aftermath of the disaster themselves, filming what they witnessed and talking to as many people as they could, from citizens affected by the spill to scientists, BP workers, journalists, and others.
Among the things they discovered were unprecedented restricted access to spill zones and beaches; the use of a highly toxic dispersant; and a seeming disregard for the health and economic needs of the Gulf’s citizenry.
While the Tickells have a clear viewpoint and bias, they raise some important questions about how industry and government react to disasters like this one; what role power, profit, and corruption may play; and the devastation that often lingers after such calamities.
The Big Fix (90 min) is not only useful for exploring the impact on people, animals and the earth of the BP disaster, but for diving more deeply into issues such as corporate responsibility and negligence, the influence of corporations over government, the consequences of short-term solutions for long-term problems, and the motivations and actions of individuals and agencies involved in such disasters. It’s also a meaningful opportunity to bring a critical eye to the film itself, looking at issues of bias, accuracy and credibility of information, and more.
What’s missing from the film is any real focus on meaningful solutions that do more good and less harm, so audiences will need to bring that lens to the discussion themselves.