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Deep Dive: Isla chatarra (2007)

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Film Lens

Isla chatarra
Isla chatarra discusses the prevalence of automobiles in Puerto Rico, an island with 25,000 kilometers of paved road despite its size of less than 9,000 square kilometers. The film presents data indicating that Puerto Rico has one of the highest numbers of vehicles per kilometer of road and ranks third in the world for cars per 1,000 inhabitants. This context sets the stage for a critical examination of the island's dependence on cars. The film aims to raise awareness and foster dialogue about the environmental and social implications of this automobile culture. It portrays the dangerous reality of an island increasingly cluttered with scrap metal, emphasizing the need for a shift in transportation habits and urban planning to address the ongoing crisis.

Why Watch

  • •See the impact of cars on Puerto Rico's landscape.
  • •Find out about the island's scrap metal crisis.
  • •Meet director Karen Rossi Coughlin's vision.

Did You Know

•Puerto Rico has 25,000 kilometers of paved road.
•The island is third in the world for cars per 1,000 inhabitants.
•Puerto Rico has one of the highest vehicle counts per kilometer of road.

Perfect For

Automobile cultureEnvironmental issuesPuerto Rican society