Judith Helfand and Daniel B. Gold’s documentary got its start when Helfand’s parents decided to put vinyl siding on their Long Island suburban home. Helfand has been personally affected by toxins before. Her previous documentary, A Healthy Baby Girl, played at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and documented her close-call with cancer due to toxins her mother unwittingly exposed her to. Smelling another story, she and Gold set off on a search to uncover both the origins and effects of vinyl. Whether they are visiting giant petrochemical plants in Lake Charles, Louisiana or uncovering company crimes in Venice, Italy, they manage to present a very provocative case on an important issue with a very warm personal style that is also imbued with a great sense of humor. Daniel B. Gold was the recipient of the Excellence in Cinematography Award. (See interview.)
Blue Vinyl
***published January 22, 2002