The Big Fix

In the spring of 2010, a catastrophic environmental disaster took place in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of the United States. After an explosion on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, enormous quantities of oil flowed into the ocean for weeks. Filmmaker Josh Tickell is originally from Louisiana, where a state of emergency was declared because of the disaster. Together with his wife Rebecca, he decided to go looking for the causes and the solutions, and the result is a lively statement that contains some warnings but concludes with a positive message. The filmmakers remain close to their own experiences and instruct the viewer with historical overviews, fast-paced animations and conversations with people from all sides of the issue, including some prominent Americans. They believe the key problem is our addiction to fossil fuels, which leaves Western Civilization dependent on the oil industry and the shady machinations behind it. The solution is the use of biofuel that can be made from agrarian crops and implemented on a wide scale, but those in political, financial and military power aren't all that thrilled with the idea. This is why The Big Fix calls upon the viewer to take action, by not wasting energy and relying on biofuel as much as possible. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)