Thought provoking and compelling environmental film about modern consumerist culture narrated through an evolutionary viewpoint. The film explores how evolution and psychology underpin a narrative of our times, constantly locating man at its centre with an unhealthy dose of pathos.
Consumerism is all around us and it is killing our planet.
The basic nature of our modern society is based upon the principle of consumerism; we have let ourselves get trapped by a daily dose of suffocating luxuries and advertising…and we know it. We are all too aware that we’re being constantly sold things we don’t need, yet it is increasingly difficult to do something about it.
Individually and collectively we have been driven to a psychological state of ‘consumer’ evolution that is undeniable. When businesses and markets evolved from ‘local’ to ‘global’, our planet entered an era of life where consumerism is now the blood that pumps through modern culture’s veins. We have squeezed our planet to the limits of what it can provide to feed our lavish lives and feed the stubborn flow of consumerism.
But how did we get to where we are? How do we react? Can we save our planet and survive our own culture?
These are the kind of questions that keep popping into your head as your watch “Consumed: Inside the belly of the beast.” This crafty film filled with interesting archive footage and insightful interviews packs a serious psychological punch. It will leave you regretting buying all that useless stuff over the years and will definitely make you re-think your next purchase.
It is a must-see environmental film for anyone serious about our planet and making a change. The film convincingly leaves you contemplating the premise that a basic human urge has been tampered with; children have now become potential ‘consumers’ and possessions have been transformed into props for social superiority.
Only evolution can tell how we are eventually going to survive our own culture of excess, but at least beautiful documentaries like this will survive as evidence that shows future generations how some at least tried to get the message across and positively change the way we live for the benefit or our on existence.
Now, I am off to make sure everyone I know sees this film…
© Slackjaw Films 2011
To see the whole film go to www.slackjaw.co.uk/consumed
Thanks to Richard Heap for making this great documentary and for sharing it with Sutmundo.com and the world.












