Ch Ch Ch Changes

Can a documentary bring social changes? At the end of Michael Moore's film; Capitalism a Love Story, (2009) Moore pleads with the viewer to get up and do something, because he can't chase companies and politicians around forever trying to bring social and economic change. Twenty years after his first film Roger and Me (1989), this appeal suggests that as provocative and subjective as his films have been over the last two decades, the changes that Moore longs for have never materialised.

Recently however, a MORI poll has suggested that some films can change peoples attitudes to how they live their lives and the produce they buy. Rupert Murray's 2007 film The End of the Line focused on the depletion of global fish stocks. Since its theatrical release the film has enjoyed secondary success with television airings and a popular trailer and affiliated consumer advice sites online. MORI suggest that consumer dedication to buying sustainable fish had doubled since the films release and that although the viewing figures are modest, over 4.7 million adults in the UK are aware of the film. (the full article can be found here) Although this might not be world changing, it is interesting to see how effective films can be in bringing change.