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Erin Brockovich Film Analysis - Coggle Diagram
Erin Brockovich Film Analysis
Erin Brockovich’s ability to access justice for (or on the behalf of) the people of the Hinkley Residence due to their inability to obtain appropriate legal representation regarding the investigation of the wrongdoings and lies of PG&E
This may be due to several factors:
the Hinkley Residents lived in a low- income area, with cheap housing and rent. This may imply that they have little to no stable income and may not afford court costs
the Hinkley Residents May have no prior knowledge regarding legal actions against cooperations and companies, and had no idea how to approach their situation
due to manipulation of the PG+E, the Hinkley residents were led to believe that their health complications had no relations to the chemicals put into the water. This manipulation led the residents to believe PG+E are innocent
It was difficult for Erin to pursuit justice on the behalf of the Hinkley residents, due to the elaborate coverup of PG+E. The Hinkley residents were led to believe that any health complications they have developed whilst living within the ‘Hinkley residential area’ were due to personal or unrelated issues. This was achieved by PG+E by hiring “personal doctors of the company” which were able to manipulate the people of the Hinkley residents due to medical people (duh as doctors, nurses etc) being seen as highly educated and professional people.
The abuse of power and negligence that large cooperates (such as PG&E) will purposely commit in order to obtain and keep money within their business breaches the trust between consumer or civilians and the company
We could argue that the PG&E value their companies profit and reputation over the health and safety of the Hinkley Residents
We could argue that the Hinkley residents are
not even aware
of the injustices that PG&E are committing against them (whether this is due to a lack of awareness, or due to Ignorance)
Within the film, PG+E violate the rights of the ‘Hinkley Residents’ by allowing leakage and contamination into the water which they use for daily activities (such as bathing, drinking and leisurely things such as swimming) the exposure to these toxins will then cause serious and harmful effects on the residents health
The PG+E lie to the public, deceive the Hinkley Residents (into believing there is no dangerous toxin within the water), conceal/ destroy evidence which may verify these activities (the leakage and contamination of water)
We could argue that the Hinkley residents are
not even aware
of the injustices that PG&E are committing against them (whether this is due to a lack of awareness, or due to Ignorance)
Throughout the film, we are presented with the idea that the cooperation PG&E abuse:
The trust of the Hinkley residents, along with other customers and higher representatives
the right for people (the Hinkley residents) to live in an healthy and safe environment
violation of the rights of the residents, by causing them harm
withholding information and the truth about how they have poisoned the water, showing a lack of responsibility on the companies behalf
“The right to live in a clean, healthy and safe environment” we could reflect on the ‘dead frog’ scene within the film, in order to prove the toxicity of the water, and how it has affected the wildlife within the area (ties into the ides of proof of how toxic and damaging the water is)
display to the audience how devastating the effect of the toxins were on living creatures, and how PG+E are slowly harming the Hinkley residents' health.
“Causing harm to the residents and violating their rights”
the scene within the film where we get small shots of medical reports and other bits of information within the film, this gives us an insight of the affect of the intoxicated water due to the irresponsibility of PG&E, (and how the music also reflects Erins eventual understanding of the case, as she pieces together in her mind how events have occurred, and what is connected with what)
helps viewers understand the severity of the medical issues which are the direct result of the chemicals within the water, which have slowly been intoxicating the waters which the Hinkley residents have been using for drinking, bathing and recreation.
Regarding the lack of awareness or the ignorance of the Hinkley Residents, we could use the scene where Erin and a Hinkley Resident lady are discussing information on the couch, with her kids in the pool. This is where the lady finally realises the water is poisoning herself and her children and rushes out in order to get the children out of the contaminated water
This scene is really important in order to portray the reactions of realisation of residents of the Hinkley estates, as it provides and portrays their realisation that the company PG+E had lied to them all in order to cover up that there are deadly toxins in the water, and is slowly killing them
Erin’s personality portrays her as a strong minded individual, who’s stubbornness and motivation made her one of the best lawyers when it came to going above and beyond for her clients, the Hinkley residents.
Although Erins character may be seen as flawed, it would somewhat appeal to certain audiences due to its ability to ground her as a real character
Ed
: “The only reason PG&E is even talking to us is because this is a quiet little real estate dispute. We have plaintiffs then suddenly we’re in the middle of a toxic tort with a statute against a massive utility. No thank you.”
Erin
: “I’ll tell the Dainels, two of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet, who every day watch their little girl Annabel fight like a dog against cancer and I’ll tell them that we can’t help them because you just don’t want to work that hard.”
Ed
: “Work hard?...It could take forever. They’re a huge corporation. They could bury us in paperwork for the next 15 years. I’m just a guy with a small private firm.”
Erin
: “Who happens to know they poisoned people and lied about it.”
The use of Juxtaposition really helps highlight Erins stubbornness, and refusal to stop fighting the case of the Hinkley residents even after Ed explains his discomfort in doing so. Erin believes what she is fighting for is right and just, and is worthy of the time and effort that needs to be put into the case.
Erin Brockovich’s characteristics and personality enable her to rise to the challenge of defending and fighting for the rights of the Hinkley residents over the course of the film, and allow for her to be differential in comparison to the other lawyers and develop connections to the Hinkley residents in order to gain their trust and insight into the court case.
Erins character enabled her to understand the Hinkley residents through her strong sense of empathy and ability to relate to them
Erin visits Pamela Duncan’s house. Within the scene, Pamela opens the screen door and exclaims “I don’t wanna feel it all over again and not have it come out right.” And Erin exclaims right back “It doesn’t matter if you win, lose or draw here. You were lied to. You’re sick and your kids are sick because of those lies. For no other reason you all have to come together and stand up in a courtroom and say that.”
Erins empathy for the situation of the Hinkley residents, and allows her to relate and connect to them whilst trying her absolute best to help them. Her willingness to defend and care for the residents really portrays her as an influential and caring individual, as well as a lawyer.
Since Erins character is empathetic towards the situation of the Hinkley Residents, she is able to gain the trust of and connect with all of the individual people of the residence. This allows her to excel in her legal case due to her heightened understanding of the pain and suffering that the residents have been going through, and the physical and emotional trauma that is a direct result of the toxic water