Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands

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Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands

2009

43m

Documentary

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89%

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9 Reviews

59%

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100+ Ratings

A study shows the environmental threats posed by a proposed large-scale oil extraction at Alberta's Tar Sands.

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Peter Mettler, its director, is trying to show how the second largest oil reserve in the world, which emits more CO2 each day than all the vehicles in Canada, has despoiled a track of the boreal forest as big as England.

Rated: 3/5

May 20, 2010

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

This timely oil industry documentary from Greenpeace is only 43 minutes long, but stunning, fugue-like aerial photography justifies its cinema release.

Rated: 3/5

May 14, 2010

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Peeled-back forests; outflow lakes black with bitumen; valleys eczema'd by excavation; it is at once scary, nightmarish and oddly beautiful.

Rated: 4/5

May 13, 2010

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Petropolis is a motion picture quite unlike anything we've seen, a monumental oil-painting-in-progress. It has to be seen to be believed, and even then you wonder: what the hell was that?

Jul 26, 2019

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Sumptuous cinematography gives this documentary an artistic feel that makes it almost hypnotic as mainly aerial cameras explore the world's second biggest oil reserve. But even with minimal text, it still makes its point with elegant simplicity.

Rated: 4/5

May 20, 2010

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Kevin Harley

Total Film

Little narration is needed: sweeping shots of the truly overwhelming natural terrain are as awesome as anything in Avatar.

Rated: 4/4

May 20, 2010

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Audience Member

A must see for all Canadians, especially for previous environmental skeptics like me. It adds to the debate, and surprisingly offers rare perspectives you may not thought of previously

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Boring if you don't know what you are getting into. It is very informative though, there is nothing good coming out of Fort McMurray that is for sure. Living there it's weird seeing a overhead view of the entire area.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

this film may contain content that is really embarrassing on national and human race levels!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

On the plus side, this looks great! I mean, yes it is shots of the oil sands, but it does make them look good! The problem is that they go on for 40 minutes before anyone talks and then the movie is over so it starts to get redundant. VERY redundant! And dull, therefore.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

Rent Baraka or Koyaanisqatsi instead.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

If you're looking to offset that Canadian pride you gained from last year's Olympics, give this film about the Alberta Tar Sands a viewing. Not much dialogue, just depressing, disgusting aerial views of a toxic wasteland the size of England. Oh Canada.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Peter Mettler

Director

Peter Mettler

Actor

Spencer Tripp

Executive Producer

Sandy Hunter

Producer

Laura Severinac

Producer

Vincent Hänni

Original Music

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Synopsis

A study shows the environmental threats posed by a proposed large-scale oil extraction at Alberta's Tar Sands.

Director: Peter Mettler
Producer: Sandy Hunter, Laura Severinac
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2017
Runtime: 43m