You are here:

Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water

Name: Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water
Director: Urs Schnell
Released: 2012
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.2/10

Fair

2012

Not Rated

Director

Urs Schnell

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Bottled Life is an investigative documentary that emphasizes systemic critique over individual representation. It succeeds by shifting the focus from Western-centric economic perspectives to explore the socio-economic realities of the Global South. While the film does not engage with LGBTQ+ or gender-specific narratives, it provides progressive value through its structural analysis of corporate power. The investigation into resource scarcity in Nigeria and Pakistan offers a necessary counter-narrative to global market neutrality. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its geopolitical scope rather than its character diversity, focusing on the impact of multinational corporations on diverse global populations.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The documentary focuses on corporate logistics and global water rights. It does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives about non-straight relationships.

How does Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water portray gender?

Fair

The film centers around a male journalist named Res Gehringer, giving him a prominent role in driving the story. It does not challenge traditional gender roles or deconstruct traditional masculinity.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water?

Good

The documentary expands its scope to include Nigeria and Pakistan, moving beyond Western-centric views. It highlights the impact of global capitalism on populations in the Global South.

How does Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques global corporate dominance and the conflict between private profit and public resource rights. It challenges traditional capitalist ideals through an anti-capitalist perspective.

Does Bottled Life: Nestle's Business with Water include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of the portrayal of individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Provides a necessary counter-narrative to Western-centric economic perspectives.
Investigates the impacts of multinational corporations on Nigeria and Pakistan, granting ability to act to non-Western populations.
Offers a strong structural critique of global capitalism and corporate hegemony.

Limited or Absent

Does not engage with LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Focuses primarily on a male protagonist, limiting gender diversity.
Does not represent individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Do you know how to turn ordinary water into a billion-dollar business? In Switzerland there's a company which has developed the art to perfection - Nestlé. This company dominates the global business in bottled water. Swiss journalist Res Gehringer has investigated this money-making phenomena. Nestlé refused to cooperate, on the pretext that it was "the wrong film at the wrong time". So Gehringer went on a journey of exploration, researching the story in the USA, Nigeria and Pakistan. His journey into the world of bottled water reveals the schemes and strategies of the most powerful food and beverage company on our planet.

How are these scores produced? →