A Drop of Life

By Cate Montana
Published November 01, 2007

20 min. Written & Directed by Shalini Kantayya
When award winning filmmaker Shalini Kantayya wrote A Drop of Life, she didnิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡t realize the terrifying, futuristic corporate-owned water supply system she had imagined was already a reality in several countries, including impoverished areas of South Africa, Brazil, and the United States. There, her science-fiction-like water meters have been installed, and just as she envisioned, they are slowly strangling the life, health and economies of the people least able to afford it.

A Drop of Life is a fascinating wake-up call designed to help deflect a future none of us want to experience. The film depicts the fictional story of two women, a village teacher in rural India and an African American corporate executive, whose disparate lives intersect when they are both confronted with lack of access to clean drinking water.
Mirabai, an impassioned schoolteacher, has left her urban lifestyle to teach in Kutch, Gujurat. When Mira witnesses growing illness among the village children she teaches after a pre-paid water meter is installed, she decides to take action. Meanwhile Nia, an ambitious young African-American executive who represents the interests of Hydron, the Manhattan-based water corporation that has installed the meters, heads to her village on a promotional tour to demonstrate Hydron's new pilot project. The scene that greets her in the villageิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s dusty square where the water pump that dispenses water with a swipe from a pre-paid credit card has been installed, is like nothing she imagined. When Nia finds herself in need of drinking water without a pre-paid card, she joins Miraิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡s world, finally confronting the horror of this system.

This 20 minute film, in Hindi with English subtitles, is beautifully crafted and acted, and is an excellent educational tool for individuals, teachers, librarians, and for anyone concerned about the availability of fresh water on this planet for all human beings in the years to come. Kantayya is a passionate advocate for the preservation of indigenous water rights. ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡The more I researched and read about water,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ she says, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡the more I became convinced of the vice president of the World Bank's Ismail Serageldin's statement on the future of war. ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡If the wars of the twentieth century were fought over oil,ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ he said, ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡the wars of the next century will be fought over water.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ I found the statistics alarming; between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population will not have access to drinking water by the year 2027.ิ๘‡ิ๘‡ิ๘‡
Shalini Kantayya is a filmmaker, educator, and activist who uses film and video to educate, inspire, and empower audiences. She launched 7th Empire Media, an independent production company with the mission of offering a voice to the unheard through media. Her films have received recognition from the Jerome Foundation, the Public Fund for Media, the IFP, Third Wave, and the NY Women in Film and Television. A William D. Fulbright Scholar and American Institute of Indian Studies Senior Performing Arts Fellow, Shalini has lectured at colleges and universities across the U.S. and India. She is currently working on a trilogy of science fiction feature films about the environment.

Thirsty to make a significant impact on the world? Become part of a national campus tour featuring a screening of the award-winning A Drop of Life, and Q&A with activist / filmmaker Shalini Kantayya. Themes covered in the screening include water privatization, art and activism, eco-feminism, and media studies. Shalini will offer strategies, workshops, and opportunities for open dialogue. For more information 7thempiremedia.com


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