Watermark
Watermark presents a visual journey through humanity’s complex relationship with water across the globe. Directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky, it brings together diverse stories from ten countries, showcasing how water shapes our lives and landscapes.
The documentary takes viewers on a sweeping tour of water-related phenomena, from massive abalone farms off China’s Fujian coast to the construction of the Xiluodu Dam, six times larger than the Hoover Dam. It captures the stark contrast between water abundance and scarcity, showing the barren Colorado River delta alongside the teeming banks of the Ganges during the Kumbh Mela festival, where millions gather for a sacred bath.
Through stunning visuals and carefully curated scenes, Watermark illustrates the myriad ways humans interact with water. The film showcases surfers at the U.S. Open in Huntington Beach, scientists drilling ice cores in Greenland, and workers in Dhaka’s water-intensive leather tanneries. It also highlights less obvious water interactions, such as the intricate rice terraces of China’s Western Yunnan Province.
The documentary addresses environmental concerns, depicting how human activity impacts water resources. It presents scenes of the Colorado River no longer reaching the ocean and polluted waterways in developing countries. However, it balances these with images of pristine watersheds in Northern British Columbia, emphasizing the diversity of water landscapes around the world.
By weaving together these varied narratives and images, the film creates a comprehensive portrait that illustrates the global significance of water. It serves as a reminder of water’s power as a terraforming element and its critical role in sustaining life and human civilization. The documentary encourages reflection on our relationship with this essential resource, highlighting both its beauty and vulnerability in the face of human activity.