Darwin's Nightmare

Darwin's Nightmare is a documentary. And like all documentaries, it is out to shock and educated the viewers on a certain issue. The issue in this case is on the introduction of the Nile Perch into Lake Victoria, Tanzania. The title refers to how the Nile Perch then raised to the top of the ecological food chain in the lake, causing it to become an ecological wasteland.

The issue being discussed is an important one. It opened my eyes to the many effects, both direct and indirect that was caused by the Nile Perch. However, this is where the documentary goes off the boil. Simply put, it travelled in every direction possible from there. There wasn't a focus to it. Compare this with "An Inconvenient Truth" which talks about global warming and "Born into Brothels" which focused on the situation in the red light district of Culcutta.

This documentary went on to explore issues such as the influx of European nations which wanted the highly prized fish but also at the same time bringing in weapons to increase their profits. It shows the poverty of the fishermen of the lake and how the survive on fish bones and heads while the good meat is exported. It shows the homeless kids having to make their own living and turning to drugs to get by. It was just trying to do too much at one time.

I loved the issues it raise and how it opened my eyes to it, but yet at the same time was underwhelmed by the many issues raised, unable to get a clear connection with each problem, before I was thrown into the next before being pulled back.