Parity Pipeline

Genre

Synopsis

Through the apocalyptic visions of youth activists, this hybrid documentary weaves a cinematic tapestry of magical realism and socio-political verité about the disappearance of Utah’s Great Salt Lake in a visually stunning, environmental thriller. Scientists and doctors have long warned about the ecological and health risks of the toxic lake bed’s carcinogenic metals, which cause respiratory issues and cancer. Experts predict that the lake could dry up by 2030 - time is running out. THIS WAS THE PLACE aims to inspire change and prevent this grim future from becoming a reality.

Weaving verité footage and surreal, fictionalized dreamscapes, THIS WAS THE PLACE captures the anxieties, hopes, and nightmares of youth leading efforts to save Great Salt Lake. Their collective visions from early childhood begin as fantastical—imagining the lake thriving with shimmering creatures and vibrant landscapes. But as they confront the harsh realities of environmental destruction, their dreams morph into a dystopian future where the lake’s ecosystem has collapsed—animals decaying in tar seeps, a birthday party where children must wear gas masks, ski resorts engulfed in toxic dust clouds. Verité scenes examine ideological conflicts: Indigenous leaders advocating for ancestral lands, politicians caught between economic and environmental concerns, scientists forecasting bleak outcomes, farmers whose livelihoods are threatened by conservation efforts, and Mormon church officials grappling with their stance on climate change. 

Culminating in a cinematically staged and poignant call to action at the now dry Owens Lake, a sister saline lake in California, youth activists dramatize their apocalyptic fears on the desolate lakebed, foreshadowing Great Salt Lake's potential fate. The film ultimately serves as a haunting reminder of what's at stake and hopeful testament to the power of collective action in facing environmental catastrophes.