"How to Poison a Planet" by director Katrina McGowan

Review by Antony Cirocco, 06-03-2025

"How to Poison a Planet" is a documentary by director Katrina McGowan. It’s the director's feature-length directorial debut, released in 2024 it won the Walkey Award for Best Documentary. As an environmental and humanist documentary, it pulls punches, lots of them and despite the appearances of celebrity Mark Ruffalo, it has merit as an in-depth investigation into the effects of PFOS in Wreck Bay in NSW and how there is a direct link to 3M one of the largest chemical companies in the world.

Synopsis - “How to Poison A Planet investigates how the use of a product as seemingly harmless as firefighting foam, has resulted in the contamination of communities all over the world. Spanning from the heart of New York City to a small First Nations community in Australia taking on its own David and Goliath battle, the film exposes one of the most widespread environmental disasters in human history.”

The strength of this work is that it draws connections between the impacted first nations people, their children and families and 3M an established chemicals company in the USA. It does this by following evidence and court cases whilst not loosing sight of the human impact of the community in Wreck Bay. PFOS is a forever chemical, meaning it doesn’t break down and with continued production it will impact us all. The tragedy here is the impact to the environment and peoples lives. This film is relevant today despite the history of this chemical in the environment as the impact of this chemical is only now being revealed and the extent of it’s use, around the world, being brought to contemporary discourse. This film is a fine example of journalism and documentary combining as a powerful force for truth and communication. Shot in multiple countries and engaging with high end celebrities, uptown New York lawyers and incorporating First Nations dance and ceremony this is a complex story beautifully told.

McGowans ability to manage multiple locations, interviewees from all walks of life and a a legal trail that crosses borders and time is a testimony to the skill and effort of this feature Director and her Producing team at IKandy films Janine Hosking, Katrina McGowan and Mat Cornwell. The camera, lighting and sound are excellent for a documentary of this scale and shot predominantly on location. The edit is engaging and gives the audience time to digest the facts and form a story without being rushed or “forced” to believe.

McGowan and the team have gone to great lengths to verify the information provided in this film, interviewing lawyers who won a lawsuit against 3M, speaking directly to the First Nations people of Wreck Bay. The team also sourced interviews from 3M employees that directly link 3M’s negligence to the impact of PFOS chemicals in the environment. The quality of the journalism here was identified by the Walkeys Award for Best Documentary in 2024.

This is a comprehensive environmental documentary that spans law, journalism and First Nations land rights, highlighting how PFOS effects everyone, across all walks of life and cultures. The film juxtaposes First Nations dance, culture and testimony against the skyscrapers of New York to show the stark contrast of the cultural landscape the PFOS straddles in terms of it’s stakeholders and impact.

This film excels expectations for Australian Documentary Production, in that it is detailed, accurate, international and doesn’t hold back from the truth in fear of litigation. The substance of the story is creatively arranged and edited without the need of overt stylisation. The people are real, the facts are real and the story is compelling as a result. 

At times some of the interviews and ‘meeting’ with lawyers seem a little staged, but do we blame the director or the Lawyers for a lack of authenticity here, I will let you decide.

In conclusion, this is an excellent Australian Documentary, worth your time, you will be educated and informed and walk away from the film a more knowledgeable version of yourself as a reward. 

The impact of this film will be long lasting, not just as a expose of PFOS chemicals but as a shining example of environmental documentary in a contemporary context and what is possible. 

I am giving this film 4.5/5 stars, it’s excellent documentary making and testament to the potential of Australian Production teams and a flag the McGowan as a director is “one to watch” going forward.

Review by Antony Cirocco

Check out the trailer