The world is crumbling in ‘The History of Concrete’

Concrete, the second-most used substance on Earth, is both a cornerstone of modern life and an environmental disaster. John Wilson, a filmmaker known for his unique approach to storytelling, has created a documentary called "The History of Concrete." This film takes a lighthearted look at the ubiquitous material, using quick cuts and deadpan narration to explore its various applications and the issues it brings.

Wilson's focus is not on concrete itself, but rather on the ways it permeates our world, from family mortuaries to patriotic brick-laying competitions, and even 3,100-mile spiritual races.

Wilson's interest in concrete began when his apartment building's basement started flooding intermittently. Despite attempts to fix the problem with store-bought concrete mix, the leaks persisted. This personal experience led him to investigate the broader implications of concrete's short lifespan. As climate change exacerbates extreme weather events, the abundance of concrete exacerbates flooding in cities like New York, where extreme rainfall and coastal flooding are now more common.

The documentary highlights the hazards of concrete, particularly its short lifespan. Structures such as the Brooklyn Promenade, designed to last only 40 years, are already showing signs of wear and tear. Former New York City traffic commissioner Sam Schwartz warns that a mass catastrophe could occur within a few years. This is not the only concern, as cities are plagued by leaks in public facilities, crumbling skyscrapers, and the need for constant repairs and demolitions.

While concrete is an indispensable part of modern life, the growing demand for sand, its key ingredient, is causing a global shortage. The extraction of sand, disproportionately impacting coastal regions, is a critical issue that Wilson explores. Despite these challenges, Wilson emphasizes that we are dependent on concrete, and the search for solutions has led to the creation of concrete recycling plants.

However, these plants often produce dangerous amounts of airborne dust, leading to protests and, in some cases, forced closures. The film concludes with Wilson reflecting on the intractable nature of our dependency on concrete and the challenges of changing our lifestyle without external pressure.