Year:  2022

Director:  Celeste Geer

Rated:  PG

Release:  June 8, 2023

Distributor: Bonsai

Running time: 89 minutes

Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth

Cast:
Agar Tejadar, Joe Michael, Laura Dern (narrator)

Intro:
… visually striking call to arms

Director Celeste Geer (Then The Wind Changed) delivers an unexpectedly uplifting exploration of the climate crisis and the dire effects of humanity’s unsustainable environmental footprint in this visually striking call to arms. It’s an urgent plea for audiences to reconsider their actions and the impact they create on the world around them, but at the same time, a celebration of that world and all its potential.

With stunning visuals, unique animation, and the gentle yet resolute narration provided by Oscar winner Laura Dern, the documentary blends interviews with scientists and environmental activists along with conversations with cultural leaders, from First Nations representatives to Indigenous leaders of Central Panama.

Geer shines a light on all we stand to lose if humanity continues forward on the path that we’re on: not only will plants, animals, and habitats be destroyed, but there’s also the devastating loss to cultural heritage to consider — languages becoming extinct and thousands of years of tradition lost as resources are threatened.

From tracing the footsteps of Guna indigenous leader Agar Tejadar as she revisits her ancestral land and considers the environmental impact on her people, to the majestic imagery of Antarctica shared by environmental artist Joe Michael, revealing the enormous scale of humanity’s effects on nature — there’s an interconnectedness to each story shared and life witnessed that echoes the intricate connections of the environment around us; the social systems that rely on each other to survive and thrive. Geer does a masterful job of fostering emotional bonds with each storyteller, avoiding shock tactics or overtly distressing imagery, instead choosing to educate and inspire.

The information being presented is not necessarily anything new or revolutionary, but the film creates a space for voices to be heard and awareness to be raised. A familiar message, but an important one.

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