Index

Certificate……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Index...........................................................................................................................................................4

Synopsis of the documentary.....................................................................................................................5

Sequential Plan of Action...........................................................................................................................6

Plot of the film............................................................................................................................................7

Argumentative Essay (in favour..................................................................................................................9

Why the documentary was chosen..........................................................................................................10

Bibliography..............................................................................................................................................11

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Synopsis of the documentary
That Sugar Film follows self-imposed test subject Damon Gameau as he
experiences the side-effects a traditional, high-sugar diet on an otherwise healthy
body.
Prior to the film, he followed a diet of no refined sugar. The upcoming birth of his
child transforms his curiosity into a need to understand the effects of hidden
sugar. With no consistent council from the medical community, he decided to
take this upon himself.
To do so, he adopts the basic modern ‘healthy’ diet. This apparently entails 160
grams, or 40 teaspoons, of daily sugar. While adopting his new sugar intake to
reflect society, he maintains his usual daily caloric intake. This experience sends
his body reeling into the negative effects that sugar has on the body. In gritty
detail, he shows his new expanded waistline, general fatigue, memory fog, and
fatty liver disease!

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In addition to Gameau in the lead, the cast includes Hugh Jackman, Stephen
Fry, Isabel Lucas, and Brenton Thwaites. Gary Taubes, Michael Moss and Dr.
Kimber Stanhope gave interviews which are included, and Depeche Mode, Peter
Gabriel and Florence and the Machine feature on the soundtrack. Gameau's
partner, actress Zoe Tuckwell-Smith, appears in the film while pregnant with their
daughter, who makes an appearance after being born during production.

Sequential Plan of Action

1. We were informed about the project and received guidance from Neelu
ma’am about the for the various sample media such as podcasts and
documentaries we could possibly use.
2. A link of the documentary was submitted to ma’am to get her approval.
3. Once approved, I analysed the documentary more minutely to get the
general idea and making an informed opinion.
4. Time was spent researching the necessary interviews and trends required.
5. The rough essay was perfected to satisfaction and submitted for
verification.

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Plot of the film

“That Sugar Film” centers on an experiment by writer-director-producer-

protagonist Damon Gameau, a wiry thirtysomething Aussie awaiting the birth of
his first child. Under the guidance of a team of scientists and nutritionists, he
becomes a human lab rat, consuming a diet that includes 40 teaspoons of sugar
per day for 60 days (40 teaspoons being the Oz average). The catch is that he
must do this without consuming any soft drinks, chocolate, ice cream or
confections; he will eat only foods that are marketed as “healthy,” such as low-fat
yogurt, muesli bars, juices and cereal, but which in fact are laden with hidden
sugars.

Even though Gameau continues his normal exercise routine while following this
new diet, and his overall calorie intake doesn’t exceed that of his previous high-
fat, high-protein regimen, the toll on his health is downright scary. Within
three weeks, he develops fatty liver disease, and by the end he has early Type 2
diabetes, heart-disease risks and 11 centimeters of extra girth around his midriff.

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He also has violent mood swings and an unwavering longing for more and more of
the sweet stuff.

As Gameau plays fast and loose with his own health, he also provides a short
capitalist history of sugar and shows how it infiltrates the West’s contemporary
diet and culture, while celebrities such as Stephen Fry and medical experts chime
in with pertinent information. Gameau also makes two road trips that underscore,
in disturbingly visceral fashion, the pic’s points about how certain food
manufacturers are determined to maintain the status quo regarding the health-
destroying aspects of sugar consumption.

In Amata, a remote aboriginal community in the Northern Territory of Australia,

the population is a mere 350 souls, but those people drink 40,000 liters of soft
drinks per year among them, with devastating consequences to their health.
Community workers and elders fought for regulations to limit Coca-Cola and to
bring fresh produce into the local store, along with nutrition counseling in schools
and clinics. The community’s health improved until the government cut funding
for their better nutrition initiatives.

In Barbourville, Kentucky, USA, Gameau spends a few days with a dentist who
operates a mobile dental clinic and treats impoverished local kids who have a
condition dubbed “Mountain Dew mouth,” the result of drinking five to six cans of
the Pepsi-owned beverage per day. (A 1.25-liter bottle boasts 37 teaspoons of
sugar and 50% more caffeine than Coke.) We meet Larry, a 17-year old boy with a
mouth full of rotten teeth; he would like to have them all removed and replaced
with dentures, but his gums are so infected that it isn’t immediately possible.
Shockingly, he maintains that he would still drink Mountain Dew after the
procedure.

Lively cutting, inventive visuals and Gameau’s feisty narration keep viewer
interest from flagging. Concurrent with the film’s release, Gameau also published
“That Sugar Book,” which supplements the film’s data with sensible advice on
kicking the sugar habit, foods to avoid, how to shop, how to read labels and how
to cook sugar-free food, with the help of more than 30 easily prepared recipes.

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Argumentative Essay (in favour)

“That Sugar Film”, even though a documentary, is fast-based and entertaining.

Filmmaker Daman Gameau acts as a lab-rat to prove it to the world the amount of
sugar manufacturers sell in each product consumed on a daily basis in the name
of "healthy foods". Even though he was not allowed to consume fast food and
confectionery items like ice cream and candies, the amount of sugar intake, bad
sugar to be specific, is alarming. It is clearly seen that after being off sugar for
several years, this daily dose of fructose hidden in "healthy foods" has an adverse
toll on his body physically, mentally and emotionally.

As teenagers, it is important for us to understand that whatever foods we

consume, in whichever form they are, or whatever label is attached to them, have
to be inspected thoroughly before consumption.

The case of Amity in Australia also proves that the Government employees, for
their own selfish reasons, sometimes forget about the health and well-being of

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the people, and favour the rich and powerful manufacturing companies. A similar
sight was observed in Barbourville, where 17-year-old, Larry even though having a
mouth full of rotten teeth, did not give up on his addiction of Mountain Dew.
Although dentist Edwin Smith proved that the anaesthesia given to him during the
surgery did not work on him because of the excessive concentration of fructose
accumulated in his body, he remained adamant and became a classic example of
how humans often ignore their health for just a few minutes of pleasure for the
taste buds.

In terms of direction, the graphics and VFX of the film are a sight for the eyes and
informative at the same time. The clever theme chosen for the conveyance of
such an important social message is perfect to attract a young crowd. The birth of
the director's daughter at the end of the film also signifies that even after having a
bad day, one can always focus on a new tomorrow, which will be brighter and full
of hope.

Why the documentary was chosen

This particular documentary was chosen because I as an Indian coming from such
a vast diversity of culture, experience a lot of variety in each and every aspect of
life, including food. It was concluded, in the in the documentary, that getting rid
of fructose is not easy as compared to other forms of sugar or fats. In a
developing country like India, the conjunction of manufactured foods is increasing
manifold annually. Marketing giants often fool the average human being into
consuming their product without researching or even thinking twice in terms of
health hazards. Such a condition was also relevant in my household. Thus, to
bring into light the disastrous effects of fructose sugar, a sugar which is not
reflected in the daily calorie count, it was important for me to study this particular
documentary.

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Bibliography
1. wikipedia.com
2. variety.com
3. commonsensemedia.org
4. watchdocumentaries.com
5. 1337x.unblockit.name
6. opensubtitles.com
7. mphonline.org

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