Local film challenges status quo

DEXTER — “Peak Oil: A Love Story” is a new film produced by Cambridge resident Nelson Cole documenting Skowhegan resident Iver Lofving’s obsession, warning people about our over-reliance on oil to keep our society running. Two dozen area citizens gathered in the Abbott Memorial Library to watch the hour-long area premiere on Dec. 2, as they then stayed another hour for a robust and lively discussion of the film’s subject at the monthly Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) meeting.
Lofving and Cole introduced the current version of the film (still being edited for final tweaks). Cole explained how he became fascinated by Lofving’s passion about peak oil over 10 years ago, and suggested they mutually collaborate, as an activist and a filmmaker. After many years the movie’s theme emerged — the story of one man’s attempt to educate his fellow citizens about a perceived danger, generally failing in that effort, analyzing that failure, then proceeding to carry on.
One of the film’s most poignant moments shows Lofving baffled by occasional hostility when he presents his views to fellow townspeople, wondering why so many are so opposed to considering even the possibility of an interruption in the supply of oil that has allowed our culture to evolve to its current state.
After the screening, discussion centered around trying to explain why denial of peak oil and climate change is so strong, as well as many practical ideas for coping with oil shortages or rationing. Lofving suggested that since the 1980s Americans have “given up on reality and been living in a bubble,” insofar as thinking rationally about the supply and use of energy.
“It’s easy now to surround yourself with people and media that reinforce what you already think, instead of challenging your views,” he said.
Cole and Lofving hope to show the film in many different venues, not only throughout Maine but possibly around the country.
DDATT’s mission is to help ourselves rethink and reshape our community as we all move (consciously or not) away from being consumers to being contributors. The January First Friday meeting will be on Jan. 6 at the Abbott Memorial Library at 6 p.m., the subject being “Our Culture of Contest” or the adversarial nature of our whole global civilization and what can possibly be done to change that perception.
For more information on DDATT and future events, email info@ddatt.org to get on list or call 277-4221 or 924-3836.