By Miguel Ernesto Yusty Hincapié

Year: 2006

Running time: 96 minutes

Directed by Chris Paine

Cast: Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson

Award and nominations:

– 2006: Nominated for Critics' Choice Awards: Best Documentary

Chris Paine's "Who Killed the Electric Car?" exposes the conflict between an idealized world and a world subjected to the economic interests of powerful minorities. It's a reflection on the dangers of misinformation, which hinder the defense of citizens' rights. A risky exercise in opinion, it manages to survive, becoming a compelling documentary that brings together internationally renowned figures from the film industry. It also boasts a striking aesthetic that draws the viewer's attention to a crucial issue: the use of fossil fuels in transportation and their potential for pollution.

The documentary attempts to explain why, despite the electric car's existence since the early 20th century, it has taken so long to be considered a viable alternative to petroleum-powered vehicles. It pinpoints a pivotal moment when the tide turned in its favor, a point from which the conflict between the two options intensified. To heighten the narrative, it features figures from the film industry who passionately defend the electric car and are willing to do anything to support what they believe is right. These allies legitimize the environmental cause and open doors to various exhibition channels. Beyond this, the title is suggestive and promises an intense drama, clearly identifying the electric car as the victim and involving the audience in the search for a culprit.

WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? could be about the car powered by compressed air or the one that moves by filling its tank with water, because what really matters is to warn about the defenselessness to which innovative and creative ideas are subjected, as well as to remind us of the danger of monolithic economic systems that are incapable of evolving in favor of the common good.