Such is the story of DuPont chemicals, whose teflon products have been poisoning consumers for over 50 years.
Bilott’s tale is documented in the new movie,Dark Waters.
Fortunately, Dark Waters is an extraordinary film.
So this movie is fantastic.
There’s one scene, in particular, where I wanted to just stand up and cheer.
Tim Robbins: Corporate crime.
Tim Robbins: It’s different for different people.
Is that part of why you wanted to do this movie?
Todd Haynes: Oh yeah.
The movie was an opportunity to tell a story.
A true story, an ongoing story.
And they thought at first, no, there’s got to be a mistake here.
We can figure this out, we know these DuPont guys!
In a way, that very premise makes the story so much more interesting.
It’s not the obvious…
He is methodical and resistant.
It’s very much about the process of discovery and what do you do about it?
While you’re watching the movie, it’s baffling.
Tim Robbins: And there are how many chemicals that were invented before the EPA that were grandfathered in?
So we don’t any testing.
So, “Oh, no one we know has died yet, so…” Ahh!
Tim Robbins: When Todd says it’s ongoing, it’s still happening today.
The EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, wants to throw out that science now.
And they don’t want to do that.
That’s the world we’re living in, and that’s why it’s important, this movie.
That’s why this story is important.
That’s why people like Rob Bilott are essential in a democracy.
Poison doesn’t discriminate.
Todd Haynes: There’s something we can do about that, and we’d better get started fast.
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