This is a movie likely to amplify any niggling hypochondriac thoughts frequent flyers have about the quality of air in their stuffed vacuumed cabins hovering 35000 feet above ground. And as it turns out, the quality is less than optimal, in some cases highly toxic, across all airlines. Conceived by British-Airways-pilot-turned-documentarist Tristan Loraine, the film seeks to shine a light on this silent culprit. Meticulous research has demonstrated that high levels of cabin air toxicity has severe heath ramifications for pilots, cabin crew and passengers. 

Captain Tristan Lorraine retired 20 years ago at just 44 due to ill health, attributed to repeated exposure to oil fumes from bleed air (the filtrated air pumped into the cabins). He has since, along with others featured in the documentary, dedicated himself to highlight the inaction of the airline companies. They have aggressively sought to suppress and silence anyone and any findings which would hinder the smooth running of their operations and potentially loss of earnings. An all-to- familiar example of our current capitalistic framework, where faceless stakeholders and their corporate greed forsake employee and the public wellbeing. 

It’s an exhaustive account told in a straightforward and earnest manner. Many familiar documentary filmmaking tools have been utilised to full effect. Scene reconstructions, abundant multimedia footage, talking heads – firsthand witness accounts from aviation staff and passengers – are combined in order to paint an incredibly clear if very bleak picture. The tireless efforts of Lorraine and all those featured in the documentary – including  people whose lives have been irreparably damaged - is commendable

This is not a movie without shortcomings. The documentary fails to capture any of the emotional gravitas of these experiences in their entirety. Lorraine’s reach is likely too far wide, and the film is packed with repetitive information. Some of the talking heads seem strangely scripted. The reconstruction scenes are a little shabby, with notably poor acting. On the flipside, This Is Your Captain Speaking hammers home the severity of what is at stake.

There is an enlightening moment in the film’s denouement when Lorraine visits various locations with a contraption measuring air particles, from the low digits of a Cornish beach or a Surrey cottage to the high levels on busy London Street to the stratospheric numbers in a plane’s cabin.This is a real eye opener. These scenes will permanently change your view on flying and air quality. The tragedy is that the companies are not likely to amend their practices anytime soon.

This is Your Captain Speaking just premiered in the 33rd edition of Raindance, taking place June 18th to 27th. Tristan Loraine has two films premiering at Raindance this year, the other one being Our Journey with Lobular Breast Cancer.