Well shot and clearly laid out, this is one documentary not to miss. Intelligent and mature in its style, with both sides fairly represented, ‘A Dangerous Game’ is a game changer.
Directed By Anthony Baxter
Highlighting the big business of building luxury, ‘membership only’ golf courses, which only a few people can afford to join, in a world going through major economic recession and hardship, is good enough cause on its own for a documentary. However, add in the ecological damage these giant, luxury causeways are capable of causing to the local water table and damage to areas of natural significance, in a world where dwindling natural resources are increasingly under threat from many sources, it becomes a very strong case indeed. Mix in the damage to the lives of those who live near these these monster courses, and it becomes a very hot potato, and a good, ‘banner waver’ for anyone interested in preserving Earth, let alone any ecologically aware person, whatever their views on golf.
However, what also comes across in film maker Anthony Baxter’s , A Dangerous Game apart from the nobility of the cause he is investigating, is the sheer force of determination he has employed, and the resulting, sheer excellence of the documentary he’s made. A step on from You’ve Been Trumped, in which Baxter exposed how damaging Donald Trump’s golf course near Aberdeen has been for local wild life, countryside, culture and for those living nearby, 'A Dangerous Game' takes the exposure a step further, and once more sets out to expose the truth of these monster golf courses. It also exposes how Donald Trump is not the only one, because in various, ecologically sensitive areas of the world, these mega golf courses have been proposed by a variety of rich businessmen and sports celebrities, who seem to be wholly out of touch with the morality, let alone the practicality of such ventures.
In Dubrovnik, which is listed as a world heritage site, a massive golf course and building complex, is planned, which would dominate the hillside directly above this beautiful town, which is in an immediate ecological and geological area, wholly unsuited to meet the resources the golf course would need. An open and shut case of ‘no’ one would think, but, with water resources piped in from a neighbouring area, which shows very little regard of how it will affect that area’s ecology and wild life, the Mayor and those who stand to make millions from this venture insist it will be good for the town’s economy. The town however, felt so strongly that they voted overwhelmingly against it in a local referendum. However, undeterred, and to date, the Mayor, has ignored the results, and plans are still going ahead. However, going on Donald Trump’s about turn, on building a second golf course in Scotland, near the same location as the first, partly, one hopes, in response to public pressure bought to bear by those who found out about the project through ‘A Dangerous Game’, it will be interesting to see what happens in Dubrovnik.
Jane Foster
