Watch Flow: For Love of Water

"Flow: For Love of Water" is a critically acclaimed 2008 documentary that examines the world's water crisis, its causes, and the potential for solutions. Directed by Irena Salina, the film features interviews with experts and activists from around the world, as well as touching stories of people whose lives are directly impacted by the water crisis.

Through Salina's lens, "Flow" paints a picture of the global water crisis as a result of a web of insidious practices, from environmental degradation to corporate greed. The film shows the devastating effects of toxic chemicals, leaking pipelines, and pollution on local ecosystems, and the toll it takes on human beings. Those most affected often lack the political power to effect change themselves.

The story is far from hopeless, however. Salina argues that the solutions to the world's water problems are often interconnected, whether it's addressing environmental oversight, corruption in the water industry, or policies that prioritize profit over people. The documentary uses compelling visuals and graphics to explain complex issues, ensuring that every viewer can understand the issue at its core.

One of the film's key themes is the idea that water is a human right, and that access to clean water is essential for the well-being of all individuals. The documentary shows how water scarcity is already affecting millions of people and how the issue threatens to affect many more in the future. Salina argues that treating water as a commodity instead of a human right is contributing to the problem, and that the issue must be addressed on a global scale.

The film features interviews with a range of luminaries, including leading water activists and experts such as Maude Barlow, Vandana Shiva, Tony Clarke, and Rajendra Singh. These experts provide some of the documentary's most compelling insights, bringing their years of experience and expertise to bear on the issue of water scarcity.

Salina also highlights stories of people who have been directly impacted by the water crisis, from people in Bolivia who fought against the privatization of their water system in the 1990s, to those in India who have been displaced by the construction of dams. Through these stories, the film shows the devastating human cost of corporate greed and government inaction.

One of the standout characters in the documentary is Dr. Vandana Shiva, who has worked for decades as an environmentalist and scholar, and who is one of the world's leading voices on water issues. Shiva's work on the intersection of water scarcity and corporate power is particularly insightful, as she shows the crucial ways in which the world's water crisis is a result of profit-seeking companies and the drive for economic growth at all costs.

Other experts featured in the documentary provide equally thought-provoking observations on the global water crisis. Rajendra Singh, known as "the water man of India", shares his insights from decades spent organizing communities around sustainable water management. Tony Clarke, President of the Polaris Institute, provides a sobering analysis of the role of the World Bank in perpetuating the global water crisis.

The film concludes by highlighting several initiatives and activist groups dedicated to solving the world's water crisis, including the Council of Canadians, which Barlow co-founded, and the Waterkeeper Alliance, which works to protect waterways and the communities that depend on them. Salina's emphasis on the power of activism is both inspiring and empowering, making the film a call to action for all viewers.

"Flow: For Love of Water" is a must-see documentary that paints a clear and compelling picture of the global water crisis. Irena Salina's film breaks down the complex issues surrounding water scarcity in a way that is accessible to viewers of all backgrounds, making a compelling case for treating water as a basic human right. Featuring insights from leading experts and touching stories of individuals impacted by the crisis, "Flow" is a reminder that the fight for clean water is far from over.

Flow: For Love of Water is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 67.