LOIS GIBBS AND THE LOVE CANAL
US, 1982, 100 minutes, Colour.
Marsha Mason, Bob Gunton, Louise Latham.
Directed by Glen Jordan.
Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal is a film about the environment, chemical dumping, the consequences for health. It is the story of a campaign by ordinary citizens of Niagara Falls and of a mother who was propelled into leadership in the campaign.
The film is based on actual events occurring between 1978 and '80. Lois Gibbs was the mother of children in Niagara Falls who comes across articles about the dumping of chemicals. She led a campaign in which President Carter finally intervened to give money to 700 families in the city to move away from homes which were in the dangerous area. Marsha Mason is energetic in the central role. Stage star Robert Gunton is her husband. The film was directed by Glenn Jordan, veteran director of many telemovies including Les Miserable and The Women's Room.
1.Interesting story? Based on characters and actual events? Environmental causes?
2.The city of Niagara Falls, homes, the picturing of the heavy industry in the city? The late '70s and early '80s?
3.The title and its focus, Lois Gibbs as an ordinary citizen? The Love Canal and the various canals in the American cities? Underground streams? Carrying toxic waste?
4.Niagara Falls, the homes, the 99th Street school? Industry, the burying of toxic waste in the '50s? Leakage? Local responsibility? Government responsibility? The exercise of responsibility, avoiding it?
5.Lois Gibbs and her family, love for her children, relationship with her husband? Her concern about her children's health? Her friends? Hearing about the articles? Meeting the author, the scientist? Her questions, the challenge by the scientist, the support of her family? Her son's illness? Wanting to move him from the school? The reaction of the education officers?
6.Lois and her campaign, her nervousness, her practising her speech, going to people's doors, meeting her school friend and enlisting her support? Signatures? Going to Albany? The reaction to the report, the questions, being evicted, on television, returning home, her speech, elected as the president of the campaign? The effect on her personally, her lack of education, discovering her own intelligence and skills? Working with people? The effectiveness of the campaign? The people moving out, into the motels, the long month of trying to live in motels? Officials visiting and her holding them? Phone calls to the White House? Television interviews? The repercussions for herself and her health? Her relationship with Harry, love and support, his moving away, trying to support her, going back to the old home, the breakaway - and the final information about her divorce? Her devotion to the cause, the break-up of her marriage?
7.The supporters - the women, wives, mothers? The deaths and illnesses? The meetings, the rallies, television? Mail-outs? The organisation of the campaign?
8.Lois's family: Harry, a good man, his work, support of his wife? Bewildered, alienated, life in the motels, his going back to the house? Separation? The children and their illnesses, the fear of leukemia, visits to the hospital?
9.The importance of the case, highlighting the dangers from past decades? The extraordinary illnesses and dangers in Niagara Falls? The building of the school on the ground which was poisoned? The consequences for families, their fears, dependence on companies for houses? Life in the motels and the break-up of marriages? Family tensions? The slow response of government?
10.The popularity of this kind of theme during the '80s and '90s - and world concern about the environment?
