St. John the Baptist Parish is a community in Louisiana set on the edge of the Mississippi River. It, and other communities along this stretch of riverbank, carry the horrifying honorific of “Cancer Alley” having a cancer risk rate 50 times higher than the United States average, thought to be caused by the numerous petrochemical and other industrial processing plants that have been built within these communities since the mid-20th century. The worst and most carcinogenic of these is a neoprene plant owned by a company called Denka.
The Big Sea – a documentary by British filmmakers Lewis Arnold, Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor – contends that the processing of neoprene is connected to the high rates of cancer and autoimmune diseases in the area. While Cancer Alley has been explored in long-form journalistic exposés, the film is the first to link what’s going on in Louisiana and wetsuits.
The Big Sea won Best Film at the London Surf Film Festival this year. It will tour the UK and Europe from January ‘25 with US and Australia dates to follow.
