The documentary under review is a YouTube video uploaded on 9th February 2018 by Sheila Baker. The video is titled “Documentary: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011” (Baker, 2018). It reports the natural disaster events, including an investigation into the cause and effects (Baker, 2018). Just like several other documentaries, it has a vast target audience even though the information it provides mainly targets governments and natural disaster experts.
Despite providing a factual report on the events in Japan in 2011, the video has an apparent purpose. It aims to inform its intended audience about the unprecedented events that are likely to occur in the case of a natural disaster (Baker, 2018). In this case, even though the country had the best technology and preventive measures for earthquakes and tsunamis, its devices could not predict the magnitude and nature of the events experienced on that particular day. Furthermore, the director wants the audience to be aware that natural disasters are uncontrollable since they result from natural earth processes. Thus, no amount of technology or preparedness can mitigate their effects (Baker, 2018). Nonetheless, she still encourages her audience to always have preventive measures due to the volatility of such occurrences.
Before watching the video, I had minimal knowledge of the subject. I had only read about the event in the newspaper, but I never took the time to research the issue adequately. Nonetheless, I expected to witness the events that led to the disasters in question and why they claimed so many lives. Additionally, I wanted to see the impact it had on the environment. In this regard, I had questions concerning the causes of earthquakes and tsunamis and their effects on the environment.
The documentary reflects the events leading to the natural disasters and their aftermath, including an investigation into the reasons for the failure of the precautionary measures in place during the 2011 earthquake in Japan (Baker, 2018). Therefore, its main events include the detection of the catastrophe and a depiction of how they occurred. A significant part of the video was filmed in Northeastern Japan, where the tsunami took place even though the first section showing the effects of the earthquake was shot in Tokyo.
Undoubtedly, this documentary has incredible sound effects which blend the cataclysmic events. However, the images are not as sharp as expected, probably because of the nature of the disasters. Despite these shortcomings, the documentary is appropriately filmed with varied camera angles to capture both calamities in depth. Another notable attribute of the documentary is the interviews that have been integrated. They are very educative, especially on understanding why Japan’s defense could not prevent the effects of the tsunami (Baker, 2018). This is blended with computer-generated imagery, which is the special effect used widely in the film to underpin the facts it presents.
I find the documentary very interesting and educative on the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan in 2011. Nonetheless, the video section where coastal engineer Allison Raby is interviewed is my favorite because of the demonstrations she presents. Moreover, the documentary has taught me about the geological volatilities of lying at the junction of major geological plates. Additionally, I have understood why natural disasters are uncontrollable and unpredictable despite the measures that could be, which is surprising. However, the documentary is highly disadvantaged by the quality of the images used and its sharpness, even though I would still recommend it to my friends because of the knowledge it holds.
Reference
Baker, S. (2018).Documentary: Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011 [Video]. YouTube. Web.