Last Call at the Oasis

Filmmaker Jessica Yu examines the looming global water crisis and what can be done to avoid it in this documentary. While water is arguably the world's most important natural resource, shockingly little is being done to protect the global water supply, and a number of leading scientists have produced evidence suggesting the amount of potable water is diminishing at an appalling rate (parts of the western United States and Australia are already becoming mired in drought). Issues such as irresponsible management permit massive amounts of water to go to waste, and lax regulation of corporations has led to pollution that causes unexpected problems (for example, one widely used herbicide present in many water supplies is causing frogs to change sex). Featuring a combination of expert interviews (including Erin Brockovich, who talks at length about the real-life Hinkley, CA, pollution case that was adapted into the popular film that bears her name), comedy sketches (some featuring Jack Black) and cleverly edited montages, Last Call at the Oasis also examines what can be done to help save our freshwater supplies before it's too late. The film received its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.