Access to safe drinking water is one of the essential and basic human rights that everyone needs in order to live, regardless of their differing opinions on politics. But residents of Flint, Michigan are still clashing with their local governmental leaders to gain access to clean water, five years after the infamous water crisis began in the city. The battle over securing clean water is highlighted in the upcoming documentary, ‘Flint: The Poisoning of an American City,’ which was directed by David Barnhart.
In honor of the film being released On Demand this Monday, January 27 by Upstream Flix, ShockYa is premiering an exclusive clip from the feature, which is titled ‘Not to Us In America.’ The clip includes interviews with several Flint residents about their experiences in their fight to gain safe water, as well as them gathering for protests against the government for not being willing and able to help the public.
‘Flint: The Poisoning of an American City’ is set against the backdrop of a post-World War II bustling Flint, which was promised the good life from General Motors. But that hope amongst the public has dwindled in recent years, as the suffering of the residents is revealed.
The timeline of the city’s interaction with the Flint River is also explored in the movie, from the continued abuse and neglect of both city infrastructure and environmental regulations, to subsequent population decline, through Michigan’s 2013 appointing of outside emergency managers. That mix of factors created a crisis which has gone on for five years, and resulted in record high levels of lead in the drinking water of the city.
The documentary features first-person accounts of area residents, including parents, social workers, educators, pastors and experts, on water and health, as well as testimony at congressional and other oversight committee hearings. Their statements demonstrate how 100,000 people have been poisoned by lead, which is an irreversible affliction. However, no timeline exists for the remediation of the situation.
‘Flint: The Poisoning of an American City’ explores the critical question of how this could happen in America, and how the event should serve as a warning for the rest of the country. The film also explores the critical question of how thousands of people in the USA could be poisoned by their own state, and serves as a warning for the rest of the country.
ShockYa is posting an exclusive clip from director David Barnhart's documentary, 'Flint: The Poisoning of an American City.'