The video titled Killer Landslides is an episode of Nova documentary series. It is intended for a broad audience because it provides an overview of the topic, illustrates the ideas with real-life examples, and uses general terms to explain the problem. The documentary’s purpose is to raise public awareness of deadly natural disasters, such as the landslide in Oso, Washington, and demonstrate their devastating consequences.
The director’s message is that a person’s life can instantly change when the disaster comes, which is why the scientists contribute their efforts to establish the causes of landslides. Before watching the documentary, I knew that landslides are caused by rains or earthquakes. I also remembered that the disaster negatively impacts the environment and people’s lives as it may result in countless victims and property damage. Thus, I expected to see the tragic aftermath of the natural phenomenon. I had some questions concerning causes and disaster response, and I wanted to learn about the measures to prevent landslides or minimize their consequences.
The subject of the film is the landslide in northwest Washington. It occurred on March 22, 2014, destroyed about 50 homes, and took the lives of several local residents (Clark, 2014). Killer Landslides exposes the events, which led to the tragedy, and captures the process of recovery efforts. The geologists collaborating with the filmmakers examine the samples of soil and clay in the area affected by the landslide to investigate the contributing factors, such as heavy rains in the Pacific Northwest. The scientists also discuss a similar event in Afghanistan in an attempt to understand the causes and consequences of major landslides. The episode was filmed in Oso, Washington, which was the site of one of the deadliest landslides in American history.
The sound effects are subtle and only used for simulation and augmented reality purposes, while the film is based on the authentic footage of landslides and their sounds. The images are sharp, colorful, and dynamic, which allows the audience to perceive the dramatic effect of the documentary. The filming takes place in the areas destroyed by the disaster and shows ruins and debris. High-angle and bird’s eye shots help the director demonstrate the state of the affected locations shortly after the landslide.
Additionally, close-up shots are used during interviews with the victims to capture their emotions and personal experience with the tragedy. I enjoyed the interviews because they provided the victim’s perspective and allowed me to understand what happens during a landslide and how people feel when they face the catastrophe. Special effects and computer graphics were employed to demonstrate the development of the landslide and reflect the large scale of the disaster.
I enjoyed the final part of the documentary the most because it suggests that there is hope for people living in vulnerable areas in the U.S. and worldwide. I learned that landslides occur after soil and clay lose their cohesive strength and become liquid after the prolonged periods of heavy rain. I was surprised that the simple examination of soil for specific signs of slope failure could predict the impending landslide. The only drawback of the episode is that it was focused on geological issues and did not mention any economic outcomes of natural disasters. I would definitely recommend the documentary to my friends and family because it educates people on the signs and peculiarities of landslides, which can save lives.
Reference
Clark, L. (2014). [HD Documentary] PBS – Nova: Killer landslides HD. Dailymotion. Web.