No Impact Man: A Review

A while back I read a New York Times article about Colin Beavan and his family. They were living in Manhattan and Colin had decided they’d go a year without making any impact on the environment. By the time the New York Times had caught up with the Beavans, they were already living without electricity or toilet paper. The impression I got from the article was that this project was just another wacky experiment by another wacky environmentalist (Colin). Having spent time with the Beavan family through the documentary No Impact Man, I think the New York Times got it all wrong.

No Impact Man begins with Colin Beavan and his wife Michelle Conlin grappling with the reality that in a few days they’re going to begin transitioning into a zero impact lifestyle.  The realities of this project hit Michelle the hardest as she is the true American consumer in the film. A shopaholic who confesses to spending nearly $1,000 on a pair of boots, Michelle most resembles the average 5th Avenue New Yorker.

In fact, it is through the eyes of Michelle that this project becomes interesting and relatable. Colin Beavan was the originator of the zero impact idea for the family. For him, it is all concept. He is anxious to begin the project and learn about local, sustainable farming methods or Nigerian pot-in-pot refrigerators. Michelle, on the other hand, is the loyal, supportive wife who struggles to give up a caffeine addiction in the beginning and watches as her husband brings composting worms into the house or takes the television out of the house.

Watching Michelle adjust to the zero impact lifestyle should make us all feel better about our fear of embracing eco-friendly choices. Michelle enjoys eating out in restaurants and vegging on the couch to watch reality TV. But seeing her successfully adapt to a different lifestyle should bring us all comfort as well.

As the family phases out their modern, environmentally damaging actions, Michelle learns that many of these conveniences have actually made for a less fulfilling, less exciting life. Once the TV is gone, the family spends significantly more time playing with their daughter. Now that all of their meals are cooked at home and are made of seasonal products purchased at the farmers’ market, Michelle feels a deeper connection to her food and sees her health improve. Riding bikes instead of taking the subway gives the family a new perspective on New York.

As the documentary progresses, Colin remains the thinker, committed to the project for the intellectual challenge it presents. Meanwhile, Michelle adapts fully to the changes in their life. She repeatedly says that she cannot imagine going back to their old habits. We’ve seen her transition from a hyper consuming Stabucks fiend, to a person fully committed to wearing-out her wardrobe befor considering anything new.

Michelle does struggle occasionally along the way. She sneaks ice at work for colder water and gets her hair dyed at the salon. She complains about using vacation time to visit a dirty farm when she’d much prefer to be somewhere far away from nature. She watches with hesitancy as her husband and her daughter stomp out their laundry stains in the bath tub. But her struggles are familiar and eventually she steps into the tub.

Maybe I’m wrong, but No Impact Man seems the wrong title for this documentary. The title and the New York Times article portray this experience through the eyes of Colin. For me, and I think for many viewers, the real compelling story is Michelle’s representation of all American consumers as she navigates a new world that in the end is actually less scary and more fulfilling than she ever imagined.

No Impact Man is premeiring September 25-26 at the E Street Theater in Metro Center.