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Going Circular

Going Circular

2021

Director

Nigel Walk, Richard Dale

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Going Circular unlocks the secrets to an innovative concept called circularity -- an economic system that eliminates waste and saves the planet’s resources. The film tells the story of four visionaries from around the world - 102-year-old inventor Dr. James Lovelock, biomimicry biologist Janine Benyus, designer Arthur Huang, and financier John Fullerton - whose extraordinary experiences changed the way they think about humanity’s future. Each of their stories leads them to a fundamental reassessment of what our food, our cities, our financial system, even our fashion industry could look like if we create, produce, and distribute within Earth's natural boundaries.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.5/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film prioritizes scientific and economic theory over interpersonal identity politics. There is no explicit evidence of queer character arcs or romantic depictions within the narrative.

Gender Representation

Fair

The documentary features female expertise through biologist Janine Benyus. This inclusion helps disrupt traditional gender hierarchies often found in industrial and financial discourse.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

A globalist lens is employed by featuring visionaries from around the world. The inclusion of designer Arthur Huang moves the film away from purely Anglo-centric perspectives.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film challenges global capitalism and traditional industrialism. It promotes an ecologically-centered worldview that prioritizes planetary boundaries over Western growth metrics.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no specific mention of characters or subjects navigating physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Strengths

  • Promotes a globalized, ecologically conscious framework that challenges traditional linear progress models.
  • Includes diverse intellectual agency by centering female expertise in high-level scientific discourse.
  • Avoids Anglo-centricity by featuring international visionaries and global perspectives on innovation.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or character-driven queer narratives.
  • Provides no visible representation or focus on individuals navigating physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Focuses heavily on systemic theory rather than the intersectional identities of the subjects.

AI Analysis

Going Circular succeeds as a systemic critique of modern industrialism. By focusing on global visionaries, the documentary moves beyond narrow Western perspectives to advocate for a more integrated, ecological framework. The film's strength lies in its intellectual agency, particularly through the inclusion of female experts like Janine Benyus. This helps balance the discourse in sectors typically dominated by male voices. However, the documentary lacks explicit character-driven identity politics. It functions more as a theoretical exploration of economic structures than a study of diverse human lived experiences.

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