“A Will for the Woods” screens Friday, September 13, as part of this year’s Greentopia | FILM series. PHOTO PROVIDED
to examine the deadly consequences of our throwaway culture. The film is illuminating as it presents some possible solutions to the situation in which we’ve found ourselves. But be prepared, there are some difficult-to-watch moments, including a particularly horrifying sequence in Vietnam investigating birth defects in Vietnam due to exposure to extreme amounts of dioxins. Luckily for audiences, the soothing sounds of Irons’ voice make the disturbing images slightly more palatable. (Saturday, September 14, 2 p.m., WXXI Studio A) With only a single library book as his teacher, Malawian teenager William Kamkwamba successfully built a working windmill that was able to power his family’s home and save them from the effects of famine. It’s an incredibly inspiring story, but Ben Nabors’ “William and the Windmill” has a little more on its mind than the simple warming of hearts. The film begins after Kamkwamba was “discovered” by American entrepreneur Tom Rielly at age 19 and brought to America, where the boy quickly became a media sensation. Nabors celebrates Kamkwamba’s endless imagination and innovative ability, but also manages to portray him in all his complexities. The film raises some thought-provoking questions as it acknowledges the opportunities the newfound notoriety provides him, but doesn’t shy away from the potential for his exploitation at the hands of rich, well-meaning white people. (Saturday, September 14, 4:30 p.m., WXXI Studio A) In the concert protest film “Dear Governor Cuomo,” a collection of activists, musicians, and celebrities (including Mark Ruffalo and singer
Natalie Merchant) lend their voices to implore our governor to ban hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) in New York State. Don’t expect an in-depth examination of the subject, but the film provides a nice overview of the dangers of fracking and a pretty awesome soundtrack to boot. (Sunday, September 15, 5 p.m., Little Theatre 1) Probably the documentary with the most unexpected thesis in the entire lineup, director Robert Stone’s “Pandora’s Promise” argues for the widespread use of nuclear power. Using interviews with a number of respected environmentalists who have changed their tunes about the energy source over the years, Stone argues that the process is just as safe as alternatives like solar or wind power. The film also blames the merging in our collective minds of nuclear power and destructive nuclear weapons for society’s aversion to the energy source, even going so far as to suggest that nuclear-energy protestors are akin to climate-change deniers (which frankly seems a bit harsh). Still, it makes for a fascinating and provocative viewing experience. (Sunday, September 15, 7:15 p.m., Little Theatre 1)
rochestercitynewspaper.com CITY 21