Written by Daryll Williams

Mission Blue chronicles the life’s work of legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle, who served as chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration between 1990 and 1992 and has been an explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society since 1998. She dedicated her academic career to canvassing uncharted territories for seaweed, and her attention is now on championing preservation of the seas.

In preparation for World Water Day on March 22nd, we’re deep diving into stories about the future of our oceans. Ready for a dip? 🌊

March’s Binge: Mission Blue

“If we wait another 50 years, opportunities we now have will be gone. This is the moment. Our decisions, our actions will shape everything that follows.”

The documentary largely follows Sylvia as she recalls every single dive she's ever undertaken. During this time, she's seen at least one product of human action, whether that’s dead animals or floating plastic bags. It's a sad realisation that humanity is so selfish, but probably something that, deep down, we all already knew.

Harrowing, insightful, and gorgeous on-screen, Mission Blue is a must-see for any documentary or nature enthusiast.

The sustainability factor

Overall: 3/5

Though Mission Blue gets its title from Earle’s nonprofit organisation, the film rarely comes across as propaganda. The story is not told chronologically, and it shuttles haphazardly between biography, science, and advocacy. That the home-movie clips are in fact reenactments also make them seem a bit disingenuous. However, Earle oozes such dedication and gumption as she tackles the ocean crisis, it’s hard not to be inspired by the furious passion she exudes for her life’s work.

The Viatu review

Themes:

As Sylvia points out, the planet’s waters are in dire shape, and that is pretty terrible news for life on Earth in general. When the documentary starts as she nears 80, we glimpse environmentally catastrophic human actions like the mass harvesting of sharks solely for their valued fins and industrial oil spills that create enormous aquatic dead zones. Earle’s current principal cause, also called Mission Blue, is advocating for hope spots – designated government-protected oceanic zones where nature can recover and be preserved from excess human impact.

Production:

The movie is directed by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens and Academy Award nominee Bob Nixon. It paints a compelling picture of the havoc we humans have wreaked on the oceans and the lightning-like speed with which we’ve done it. Stevens met Earle after producing 2009’s Oscar-winning The Cove about dubious Japanese dolphin-hunting practices. That led to him following his new best friend for 3 years of her nonstop globetrotting to research, lecture, and lobby on behalf of ocean preservation. Their travels range from Chesapeake Bay to the Great Barrier Reef; in some locations she’d previously visited, she’s dismayed by the decimation of once-flourishing coral and fish life due to pollution and overfishing. The production is also tightly edited and high-grade in all tech departments. The undeniable highlight, however, is cinematographer Groark’s footage of brilliantly coloured life beneath the ocean surface.

What makes it different: 

Part environmental commentary, part autobiography, Mission Blue is as much a dedication to the natural world as it is an ode to the brilliance of Sylvia Earle. It is hard not to be charmed by Sylvia as she describes the pristine Florida of her youth and her love affair with the Gulf of Mexico. Her passion for the ocean seeps through the screen. So does her heartbreak as she describes how Florida transformed before her eyes, as tourists invaded, bays were dredged, and crystal clear waters became murky with soil. “That kind of experience – a witness. I saw the before, I saw the after influence of what we can do to the natural world.”

March’s Netflix & Change is about framing things in a new perspective. That is to say, collectively, we can make colossal, positive changes if we remain steadfast in our efforts to protect the people, wildlife, and landscapes around us. Take a minute to think about that.  

At Viatu, we’re all about strongholding a sustainability revolution. Join the journey on Instagram.