U.S. REVIEWS

CANADIAN BUZZ

Mother Nature’s Son
The Varsity, Woody Harrelson, April 4th, 2011

There is a terrific documentary on this subject called Water On The Table following the efforts of Maude Barlow to stop this madness by declaring water a human right. This may seem obvious but, in a recent Free Trade agreement it was established that water is a tradable product.

A Film About Our Own Wasted Resource
Rabble.ca, Melanie Redman, January 2011

The film, in all of its visual and audio grandeur, follows Barlow in two struggles that bring the water issue home to Canadians — the Alberta Tar Sands, and a local struggle in Simcoe County, Ontario.

Documentarian Liz Marshall
IN Toronto Magazine,  December 2010

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “Water is life. It’s not like a debate about running shoes or oil. It’s a debate about life. We all need water  to survive”

An unforgettable portrait of Maude Barlow on a mission to save H2O
Ryerson Free Press, Desiree Buitenbos, November 14th 2010

Marshall has captured an unforgettable portrait of a woman on a mission and created an alarming documentary that will make you want to get up and do something about the water crisis.

Our Water Our Lives
Brent Stewart, Niagara at Large, October 21st, 2010

I thought the film was exceptionally well done, and extremely informative, I would definitely recommend this film to anyone and everyone. Because in the 21st century where the term “blue gold” holds more weight and significance than virtually any other, we must all raise our consciousness to this critical issue at hand and work together to protect our most vital natural resource, as well as our natural right to water. Our very futures, and those of our children, may wholly depend on it.

Water Doc Wins at Environmental Film Fest
CBC News

Water on the Table, filmmaker Liz Marshall’s documentary about water politics in Canada and on the global stage, was named best Canadian feature at the Planet in Focus film festival this weekend.

Water On The Table: The Cleanest drink in the world?
Chris Bilton, EYE Magazine, October 13th, 2010
Review: 4  STARS (****)

Director Marshall delivers a great portrait, while also giving voice to the many counter-arguments, for a balanced but ultimately persuasive plea for Barlow’s case that potable water be included as a human right.

Water On The Table: Water Worries
Norman Wilner, NOW Magazine, October 14th, 2010
Review: 3 STARS (***)

Marshall’s documentary shows Barlow working hard to overcome corporate spinmeisters, wavering governments and an unenlightened public.

Water: A Right or a Commodity?
Stephanie La Leggia, The LINK, October 12th, 2010

Although many companies refused to take part in the film, the film provides shocking facts and compelling visuals. It will become difficult for corporations to continue to ignore the masses of people alongside the fence at Dump Site 41 and the powerful native voices protesting Alberta’s tar sands.

Water Fight in Focus
Christopher Jones, TO Live With Culture, October 12th, 2010

A number of provinces would love nothing more than to start profiting from the export of their seemingly abundant water resources, which would trigger NAFTA clauses and truly put water on the trade table. Enter “water warrior” Maude Barlow, head of the Council of Canadians and chair of Washington-based Food and Water Watch …

CINEMA FERN: The Real WaterWorld
FERNTV, October 12th, 2010

Instead of listing all the problems, both Barlow and Marshall inspire and motivate us to work towards a solution.  FERNTVcaught up with Liz to discuss what both her and Barlow bring to the table in this film …

Highlights at Planet in Focus
Jason Anderson, Special to the Star, October 7, 2010

The 11th annual edition of Planet in Focus runs Oct. 13 to 17 at various downtown venues. The precarious state of the Earth’s fresh water sources is the subject of several new films, most notably the Canadian doc Water on the Table. Toronto filmmaker Liz Marshall trains her camera on Maude Barlow as the seemingly tireless activist works to raise awareness of water issues across Canada.

Documentary Highlights Activist Maude Barlow’s Work on Water Conservation
Valerie Cardinal, The Concordian, October 5th, 2010

How much do Canadians really know about their own freshwater? Not enough, according to Liz Marshall, director of Water on the Table. “I want people to reflect deeply on water usage and the greater spiritual and philosophical question of whether water is a human right or a commercial good,” she said.

Review: Water on the Table a moral look at the survival of the species
Katherine Monk, Canwest News Service (Ottawa Citizen)

June 18th, 2010

CAPSULE REVIEW: Water on the Table — Liz Marshall follows international water advocate Maude Barlow on an international fact-finding mission, and shows us how the earth’s water supply is slowly being sucked up by corporate interests. Though it could be seen as a manifesto, Water on the Table backs up every argument and point of social justice with facts. Rating: Three and a half stars out of five. — Katherine Monk

Water Crisis Makes Maude Boil
Katherine Monk, Canwest News Service
Thursday, April 22, 2010

As Water on the Table documents, most people don’t argue the scarcity point of Barlow’s message. They have a hard time with the notion of “water as a human right” — the ultimate aim of Barlow’s activism.

The film, directed by Liz Marshall, explores this central dilemma through several pairs of eyes…. “

The Water Agenda: An interview with Liz Marshall
Art Threat, Ezra Winton
April 14, 2010

“There has been sudden explosion in documentaries looking at the problems and politics of water. Films like Water Life, Blue Gold, Thirst, Flow, The Water Front and others have focused their attention towards a contemporary issue facing the whole planet: access to clean water and water sustainability. Liz Marshall’s new documentary Water on the Table focuses in even closer, following water rights advocate Maude Barlow …  Marshall’s documentary on this champion is a fantastic film and an important piece of the water puzzle that hasn’t been explored in other films on the same topic …”

Art & Culture Maven
March 16, 2010

“… The idea is a strong one and the debates compelling, but does it make good cinema? The answer is yes. Water on the Table is filmmaker Liz Marshall’s first feature

length documentary, but it nonetheless follows in a growing body of work that focuses on talking about issues with an artistic vision … “

The Globe & Mail
John Doyle
March 24, 2010

“Water on the Table is well worth your time if you have access to TVO. A documentary that’s pointed but visually sumptuous and poetic… “