"Gasland" is a chilling look at methods of the natural gas industry and its effects on the environment and human health. The perspective of the documentary itself is depressing. Josh Fox, the filmmaker, goes into the homes of Americans affected by hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking." Throughout the film, Fox travels from Pennsylvania, where he resides, thru Colorado and Wyoming, showing how "fracking" is damaging to several regions of the country.
In Dimocht, Penn., Fox goes through an entire neighborhood affected by "fracking" done by Cabot Oil & Gas. This resulted in water problems, health problems, property damage, animals losing hair, and overall the "total loss of normal life." The most disturbing scene was the one where Mike Markham from Weld County, Col. lights his running tap water on fire in his home.
It's fascinating stuff, but the film seems to be one-sided on the whole issue of hydraulic fracturing. Not saying that it's a bad thing. From a journalistic standpoint, you have to cover all bases of a story to report the most accurate version of the truth. Fox does show footage of the government and people working for the EPA, but he doesn't consider the take of officials from the natural gas industry. In the beginning, Fox does attempt to communicate with certain companies, but after he fails to get in touch with a representative, he gives up altogether and moves towards doing his own research and reporting on the matter.
Fox dedicates most of the film showing the downsides of "fracking." His loyalties lie with the residents affected by it. He's not really working for anyone, but he does the film to gain more knowledge about an issue, which turns out to be a major controversy. I do think that "Gasland" considers an agenda as each scene progresses, but the film starts out with the facts. It gets the audience thinking. It unveils hidden truths about the natural gas industry.
America's Natural Gas Alliance seems to think otherwise, and that "Gasland" persuades with fear and hides the truth (http://anga.us/truthaboutgasland). I don't think their statements are completely valid, but their rebuttal leaves me thinking. This video produced by the alliance voices their view on the documentary film:
But, a letter released from Fox in July 2010 "de-debunks" such allegations of false statements (http://1trickpony.cachefly.net/gas/pdf/Affirming_Gasland_Sept_2010.pdf).
Fox is still committed to pursuing the truth in this controversy. He was arrested Feb. 1 for attempting to record footage from a congressional hearing on hydraulic fracturing (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-gasland-joshua-fox-20120203,0,2807685.story).
Here's a music video that gives a brief lesson on how "fracking" affects us and shows some points that were also highlighted by Fox in "Gasland":
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