Shored Up

Shored Up is a gripping, thoughtful, and fracking documentary film directed by Ben Kalina and released in 2013. The film serves as an eye-opener, bewitching viewers with its raw, revealing, and indisputable portrait of our planet's vulnerability to climate change. This compelling documentary takes a deep dive into the highly relevant topic of coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and the societal response to these impending environmental threats.

The film takes its audience on a dynamic journey along the shores of the United States, precisely to the barrier islands of New Jersey and North Carolina. Shored Up sets its stage in these places that have weathered the brunt of nature's fury, exemplified by Hurricane Sandy and other devastating coastal storms.

The star of the film, director Ben Kalina, uses Shored Up as a platform to make potent observations about coastal management processes and policies. Through breathtaking visuals and compelling narrative, the film evaluates the tension between the raw power of nature and the insistence of people to inhabit places in its destructive path. It offers a disquieting exploration of what happens when we try to manipulate nature, especially in our attempts to tame the sea's relentless energy.

Ben Kalina provides an intelligent blend of science, politics, and human interest in Shored Up. With gripping storytelling, the film sets a tone of urgency, focusing on the undeniable realities of climate change. It succeeds in capturing the stark complexity of coastal erosion and the consequential threat of rising sea levels. Moreover, it critiques the increasing trend of resort development and the policy of beach replenishment, raising concerns about the economic and environmental sustainability of these practices.

Shored Up’s real strength lies in Kalina’s ability to unravel the controversy behind the intricate human, political, and economic dynamics driving coastal management policies. Through interviews with engineers, politicians, residents, and concerned citizens, the movie highlights how these parties grapple with the problem in different ways. The documentary does a remarkable job of showcasing various perspectives, introducing viewers to people directly affected by these events and the experts providing prognoses of what lies ahead. The human narratives embedded within the film make the situation palpable, adding emotional weight to the already severe situation depicted.

Shored Up is a potent reminder of the anticipated consequences of global warming and unregulated human activities on the shoreline. It underscores the need for people to reconsider their relationship with nature, reflecting on how our present actions or inactions could significantly impact the future generations' surroundings and safety.

The film is a mutual dance between gripping individual narratives and overarching societal dilemmmas. Despite its complex subjects, Shored Up is highly accessible. It employs a provocative yet engaging storytelling approach, making it a must-see for anyone concerned with climate change, environmental policy, and community resilience in the face of an unpredictable future.

One can infer that the primary goal of Shored Up is to ignite discussion and raise awareness about the costs and consequences of our present commitments to beachfront real estate and tourism economies. It conveys a clear message that it's high time we reevaluate our priorities and expectations from the environment. It makes one ponder about the wisdom or lack thereof, in spending millions of dollars to restore beaches that nature will inevitably reclaim.

The conclusion is sobering but fuels the urgency for change. It leaves its viewers, just as it left its interviewees - staring at the horizon, contemplating the future, and wrestling with the question of how to face the coming tides. The truth is that the landscapes are changing, and with them, our relationship needs to change too.

In essence, Shored Up is far more than a conventional environmental documentary - it's a wake-up call to humanity, a hard lesson about our planet's fragility, and the impending climate risks. Its significance goes beyond cinematic experience and stirs audiences to ponder over their impact. By appreciating our relationship to the dynamic coastal environment, maybe, we can find a more sustainable path, which does justice to both human ambitions and nature's bounds. In a time when issues like climate change are reaching critical levels, Shored Up compels us to pay attention, to listen, and hopefully, to act.