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Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much?

No Impact Man – a green movie review by Karen A Teeters

No Impact Man on DVD

Colin Beavan, author of the book and blog of the same name had an inspired idea for a project, for a book, but he never imagined his and his family’s wild year of radical low consumption would be made into a documentary. And may I add a very entertaining, light, fun, inspirational and even educational documentary movie at that!

In the beginning of the film Colin expresses this thought,”Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much?” And sometimes when he introduced some really austere and strict ideas that were met with a bit of resistance and maybe second guessing even on his part, you know he was wondering what the answer would actually be  at the outcome of this experiment of his.

So Colin’s idea of foregoing electricity, coffee, processed foods, paper goods, restaurant eating and buying used items, getting rid of TV and more to see how one family’s commitment would impact the rest of the inhabitants on the planet was filmed for the world to see.

His wife and his sweet toddler daughter had no idea what they were getting into when they agreed.  Michelle Conlin was a good sport even when she admitted on camera her temptation to cheat because of her admitted coffee/caffeine  addiction. So seeing  her at the corner Starbucks succumbing with  an all too recognizable cup in hand and hearing  her all too human rationalizations helped the other half of the more skeptical  and less virtuous viewers relate. What is a woman to do for the love of a good hearted husband? You could see she worked hard and deserved a cup of Starbucks caffeine from time to time!

So we followed this family from day to day, seeing Colin’s new plans and efforts to change daily habits come to fruition sometimes smoothly and sometimes with a big surprised frown (usually Michelle’s but she eventually came around-this made for some good comedy).

It was curious to see this family’s  experiment take place in such a large urban city such as New York City. Colin’s ongoing plans such as having a compost bin in the living room, buying locally grown food from a local farmers market, gardening in a communal garden park and even vacationing in a suburban New York natural farm for a week brought the family closer and instilled the feeling that they were really connected to mother earth. In the heart of New York City that is a feat!

Colin and Family

By the end of the movie you really got a true sense that this year of zaniness with its  sometimes second guessing the decision – but sticking with it, really paid off. Michelle softened to many of the changes when she experienced the benefits of being healthier, of being more connected to friends and family.

Things got simpler and there was plenty of time to be together. And all this while New Yorkers and the nation went crazy wanting to interview Colin and the family. They became celebrity figures. Sometimes for cynical New Yorker critics questioning the couples’ sincerity in the beginning and other times because people were finally starting to get it, the importance of the experiment.

At the end of the film, you heard Michelle evaluating what she was willing to continue to be committed to. She chose to keep the majority of the changes although it was great to see them put the electricity back on. I think Colin realized he went way more austere than many committed environmentalists would.

And to see Colin educate himself and become a true environmental activist involved in community groups was very inspiring. It was a very well done documentary with Colin and his family being seen on the hero’s path, not taken out of the everyday environment for an adventure but taken out of the everyday comfort zone. And they came back from their year’s adventure transformed! Is it possible to have a good life without wasting so much? The No Impact Man and his family say yes!

I saw the movie at home on watch it now Netflix, truly a good low carbon way to enjoy a green flick! Five green stars!

Links:

No Impact Man : a blog by Colin Beavan

No Impact Project

The book: No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process

Did you see the movie or read the book or do you follow the blog? What do you think? Has a lasting, meaningful movement been created? Have you lowered your consumption? How?