Mark Ruffalo Takes On The True Story of DuPont in “Dark Waters”

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With a title like “Dark Waters,” this film could be a horror movie, and I guess in a way it is. Dark Waters is based on a true environmental mystery and legal battle, with Mark Ruffalo taking the lead as the tenacious Rob Bilott. He might as well be an “Erin Brockovich” without the sass. Anne Hathaway offers grounding and a much-needed reality check as his wife, Sarah.  

The movie was just released on Prime, so it’s the perfect time to go check it out. 

Rob and Sarah might have had a very different life. He was a well-respected corporate lawyer, and he was on the verge of becoming a partner at his law firm. He kicked a hornet’s nest and managed to unravel what is at one point described as an onion of dark secrets and lies. Furthermore, he takes one layer off at a time to uncover the truth about DuPont and its campaign to cover up harmful toxins (PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid) and their side effects.  

It started out innocently enough, with him looking into the claims of a farmer (Wilbur Tennant) who was a friend of the family. The farmer had documented the effects of toxins on his cattle, which included birth defects, malignancies, and widespread death of his herd. From that nugget of truth and the evidence that he gathered, Rob discovered a much more troubling pattern of wrongdoing that was well-documented. 

As he digs through the mountain of evidence with his young pregnant wife and then his young children, the gravity of the situation is horrendous. He discovered that DuPont and 3M had conducted tests on PFOA, with findings that it was harmful in animals (lab mice) and in humans. Some of the first evidence that confirmed the harmful effects came from the women who worked at their factories.  

Rob’s entire life was turned upside down. He was ostracized by his friends and community because DuPont was a local hero. They were the source of local jobs, the sponsor for local sports and activities. They seemed to own the hearts and souls of the people, and Rob was trying to prove that DuPont had neglected to inform them about toxic sludge (PFOA) that was making them all sick and even killing them with cancers and four other diseases.  

Rob found evidence and had eyewitness accounts of the women and their children who were born with birth defects. He was taking on an American giant in what could surely be called a David-vs-Goliath encounter, but he needed justice for the families who had unwittingly been affected and the lives that had been lost. 

It’s true that none of this evidence is particularly new. You may have read about the dangers of Teflon for years, and you may even know about Rob’s epic battle with DuPont to get justice for his clients who’ve been affected by PFOA over the last 28 years. Environmental pollutions and toxins are not new, and for most of us, we KNOW what they have done.  

THIS movie is not a news story, nor is it a documentary. In a documentary, they would not have found it noteworthy to highlight the discussion of Rob and his pregnant wife, Sarah, as he tears up the carpeting and throws the pots in an overflowing of despair and consternation. Their body language spoke volumes as they realize that their world is NOT safe, not for them and NOT for their children.

The movie is more than just an emotional plea to all of us to BE AWARE and be active in stopping the use of these dangerous and deadly chemicals in our lives. It’s a testament and a reminder of how much the warriors for environmental justice have risked and lost along the way. The very least we can do is to listen, learn, and continue to be aware.  (Oh, and it might make you rethink that Teflon cookware.)

If you’ve not yet had the opportunity to experience “Dark Water,” go watch it on Prime! Then, let us know what you think about it below in the comments!

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