Water & Power: A California Heist

Water & Power: A California Heist is a gut-gripping, thought-provoking 2017 riveting documentary from the acclaimed National Geographic Channel. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film delves into the murky depths of California's still-current water crisis in a way that is both penetrating and unsettling. It lets viewers journey through the eye of what is currently one of the most contentious and controversial concerns not only in California but also globally—the vital and ever-dwindling resource known as water.

As the title indicates, the documentary places viewers smack in the middle of a "heist" that happened not in a bank or a high-security vault but instead in the rivers, dams, and aqueducts of California. Through the stories of helpless civilians, corrupt corporations, and dubious government officials, Zenovich sheds light on an audacious water heist that has left millions of Californians thirsting for water that was once naturally theirs.

Running for around 87 minutes, Water & Power: A California Heist is not just about California's dwindling water supplies—it exposes the power games, greed, and political intrigues that have turned a natural resource into a commodity with astronomical prices. It is a deep exploration of wealth, power, and, most predominantly, the manipulation behind the control and distribution of water in one of America's liveliest states.

The documentary starts off by taking viewers on a historical journey. It immerses them in the Wild West era of California when water rights were first established in the state. The relentless digging exposes some profound injustices, with powerful individuals and corporations exploiting and manipulating a loosely defined, century-old system of water rights for personal gain. It's laid bare with stark clarity and stark criticism about how those who hold the most water rights came to own them, and how they're using this ownership to turn a handsome profit.

With Zenovich masterfully juggling complex narratives, the documentary also takes viewers to the other side of the water divide. Through the lives of local residents in farming communities, such as the town of Stratford in Kings County, the film delivers personal and poignant testimonies of ordinary people. It dives deep to unearth the human cost of this dire situation, showing homeowners whose tap water is undrinkable and unusable; families who can no longer shower, cook, or quench their thirst free from worry.

In addition to illustrating the human conflict, Water & Power: A California Heist also opens up the environmental implications of this reckless water distribution. Through the voice of environmental and water conservation experts, the documentary highlights how the gross mishandling of water allocation is leading to significant ecological damage that has far-reaching impacts on wildlife, agriculture, and the very land that Californians call home.

At its heart, Zenovich’s film is fundamentally about inequality, mirroring significant the socio-economic disparities that plague California. "Water & Power: A California Heist" succinctly demonstrates that access to water is tied to wealth and influence. The wealthier the individual, the less likely they are to feel the effects of the heist. The poorer the person, the more their life is shackled to the availability of clean and safe water.

Despite covering a complex topic, Zenovich's story is a seamless narrative that breaks down the elements of the crisis in a manner digestible to a lay audience. By engagingly incorporating footage from hearings, interviews, and clips from the terrain, the realities of the water crisis become spatially and temporally tangible—allowing for more transparent discussion and criticism.

Water & Power: A California Heist is a gritty, engrossing, and sobering tale of environmental doom, political corruption, and social inequality. It is a cinematic call-to-action—an informative, enlightening, and disturbing appeal to all of us about a matter of utmost global concern. While the film is specifically about California, it serves as a stark reminder that the importance of water and the crises it can entail are worldwide problems that need immediate attention.