No Defense

2021 • 72 minutes

About this movie

NO DEFENSE is about the first known U.S. site with PFAS pollution, the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Michigan. People there have waited years for cleanup, and are fighting the U.S. military. For decades, we've known PFAS chemicals are harmful. The U.S. military uses them at hundreds of sites across the country, contaminating surface and drinking water leaving devastated victims. NO DEFENSE is directed by Pulitzer-Prize winner Sara Ganim and produced by Emmy award winner Lennart Bourin.

Ratings and reviews

A well made documentary about a hazardous chemical used in firefighting foam that focuses on a closed Air Force base in Oscoda Michigan. It has a bit of the stridency and anecdotal evidence that are common in such films. It documents that high levels of the toxin have been measured in the water, fish and the featured people suffering from ailments in the area. It does not make a hysterical call for a ban. It criticizes the military for stonewalling and the environmental agencies for lack of action. As a disclosure, I'm a big critic of Sara Ganim's work on the Penn State Paterno/Sandusky scandal (for which she won a Pulitzer), which I believe is horrible.

A truly excellent, shocking and well-made film, which exposes how good people have campaigned for years for answers on a national scandal. It is brave, brilliantly told, has innovative cinematography, powerful stories and searching journalism. I highly recommend No Defense.

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