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Kanopy'sEarth DayFilms:ATool forEnvironmental Literacyand SocialChange
WithEarthDayfastapproachingonApril22,nowisagreattimeto curateanEarthDayprogrammingeventatyourschoolorlibrary. Theperfectplacetofindarangeofenvironmentaldocumentariesis thestreamingservice,Kanopy.Throughthisuniqueon-demand streamingserviceavailablethroughyouruniversityorlibrary, Kanopyuserscanaccessawidevarietyofdifferentfilms,including Kanopy’scuratedenvironmentalstudiescollection.
KanopydividesitsEarthDaytitlesintofivecategories:EarthDay Favorites,OurAmazingPlanet,EndangeredSpecies,Sustainability, andClimateChange.EachtitleishandselectedbytheKanopy teamtoinspireandemboldenviewerstotakeactionandadvocate forenvironmentaljustice.
Thesetitlesaretheperfectwaytolearnmoreabouttheplantsand animalsthatinhabitourworldandthewayswecanprotectthem fromclimatechangeandotherenvironmentaldisasters.Whether youarealibrarian,educator,student,orlibrarypatron,thereis somethingforeveryonewithinKanopy’sEarthDayCollection.
EarthDayFavorites
ThesevenfilmsintheEarthDayFavoritescategoryshowcasesomeofthemost sought-afterandbelovedenvironmentaldocumentariesthatKanopyoffers.Favorite titlesincludethe2009documentary,FoodInc.,apopularfilmthatrevealsthe shockingtruthsabouthowfoodintheUnitedStatesisproduced.Anotherfilmthat inspiresviewerstotakeactionagainstanimalcrueltyisthe2013documentary Blackfish,whichexaminestheethicaldilemmaofkeepingintelligentkillerwhalesin captivity.
EarthDayFavoritesalsofeaturesAnInconvenientTruth,a2006documentarythat showsAlGore’spersuasiveargumenttoacknowledgetheclearsignsofclimate changeandtakeactionagainstthem.Thiseducationaldocumentaryisawake-up callthatbecomesmorerelevanteveryday.
Amorerecenttitleinthiscategoryisthe2020filmSpaceshipEarth,adocumentary abouteightindividualswhospenttwoyearsinaself-engineeredbiomeaspartofan experimentin1991.Selectionsinthiscategoryareagreatplacetostartplanningyour EarthDayprogramming,astheycoverarangeofdifferenttopicsandemotionsand inspireviewerstotakeaction.
OurAmazingPlanet
FilmsintheOurAmazingPlanetcategoryhighlightthebeautifulanddiversespecies thatinhabitourplanet Animaldocumentariesfocusonawidearrayofdifferent speciesfromaroundtheglobe,likesnowleopardsinthehighlandsofTibet,hippos strugglingtosurviveasfloodwatersdryinBotswana,andtheelusivebehaviorsofwild pandasinthemountainsofChina.
Thesetitlesalsoeducateviewersaboutpartsofthenaturalworldbeyondanimals,by examiningwondersliketreesandvolcanoes.Onetitleinthiscategorythatwouldbe idealforpublicscreeningeventsisAnimalBabies:FirstYearonEarth,whichfocuses onthechallengeswildanimalsfacewithintheirfirstyearoflife.OurAmazingPlanet documentarieswouldbeidealforyoungviewersandpeoplewhowanttolearnmore aboutspecificplantandanimalspecies.
Sustainability
TheSustainabilitycategoryincludesdocumentariesthatexplorevariousecological disastersthatravageourplanetandthemeasuresthatwecantakeagainstthem. Thesefilmsexposethedangersofrapidlygrowingcriseslikeairpollution,theplastic industry,andfastfashion.However,theyalsoshowcasegroupsofactivistsand everydayciviliansthatareworkingtoundothedamagecreatedbythesepractices.
Forexample,the2009documentary,Fresh,profilesfarmerandbusinesspeoplethat arereimaginingsustainablefoodproductioninAmerica.The2020filmCurrentSea explorestheeffortstocreateamarineconservationareaandcombatillegalfishing.
ClimateChange
Finally,filmsintheClimateChangecategorytackletheenormousissueofclimate changehead-on.Thesefilmsexaminehowclimatechangeaffectsallpartsofthe world,fromrisingsealevelsontheMarshallIslands,destructivewildfiresinthe Westernwoodlands,meltingpolaricecaps,andthedestructionofcoralreefs.The ClimateChangedocumentariesalsoexaminehowpublicopinionandskepticism impedethehandlingoftheseissues.
Forexample,the2012Frontlinefilm,ClimateofDoubt,examineshowpublicopinionon climatechangehascooledconsiderablyfromhot-buttonissues,withmany politiciansignoringorrejectingtheideathatitisoccurring.Thisfilmdiscussesthe organizationsandpoliticalmeasuresthathaveshiftedthedirectionoftheclimate debate Thesetitleswouldbetheperfectwaytoinspireawarenessandchangeata varietyofdifferenteducationalorlibraryprogrammingevents
Kanopyistheplacetobeawestruckbyouramazingplanetandtobeencouragedto curbthedangersourplanetiscurrentlyfacing.Visitkanopy.com/category/17330to viewthecuratedEarthDaycollection Librarieswhodon'tyethaveKanopycanfind outmoreandjoinatlib.kanopy.com.Kanopyisalsohometoawidevarietyoffilms suitableforallpatrons,students,andaudiences.
Syndicado"TheLastMaleonEarth"
TheDaytheEarthCaughtFirein theAgeofClimateCollapse
Imagesofdystopianworldshavelong beenafeatureofourculturalhistory: Goddousingtheplanetinflames,the giantcrabsandbutterfliesattheendof theworldinH.G.Well’sTheTimeMachine, thepiercingheatofJ.G.Ballard’sThe DrownedWorldanditshugemosquitos. Morerecentlythishascreatedasubgenreknownascli-fi,wherewritersuse fictiontoimaginebrutalsocieties damagedbyclimatecollapse.Onething thatthreadsmuchdystopianfictionis theimageofaheatedEarth,dousedin unrelentingsunlight
Asweacceleratetowardsclimate collapse,theseimagesarenolonger containedwithintheimaginationsof artists theyconsistentlyappearinfront ofus.TheAustralianbushfiresthat causedapproximately1billionanimalsto burntodeathanddecimatedpolarice sheets,theKenyandroughtthatmay cause2.1millionpeopletostarve,and floodinginAmericaandSpain,arejusta smallnumberofexamplesofthe extremeweatherthatwillradically changeourlives.
TheDaytheEarthCaughtFirewas releasedin1961,writtenbyWolf
MankowitzandValGuestwithGuest directing.Thefilmfollowsdepressed, alcoholicjournalistPeterStenning (EdwardJudd);hiscareerandlifearein free-fallandhisloveforFleetStreetis shattered.StenningworksatTheDaily Expressalongsideveteranscience reporterBillMcGuire(LeoMcKern)whois effectivelykeepingStenning’sjobby writinghisarticlesforhim.Guestand Mankowitzcraftoneofthemost believableandfullyrealizeddepictionsof anewsroomincinema;theharried, hecticdayswherethewritersliveunder theever-constantglareofthedeadline inaroomsuffusedwithendlessthick smoke.
Thefilm’snarrativeisdrivenbythetwin detonationofnuclearbombsbytheU.S. andtheSovietUnionatthesametimeon theNorthandSouthpole.Whatbegins asablastofextremeweather(wesee tabloidfrontpagesravingaboutthe sunnysummerweather,nottoo dissimilarfromthoseofmodernpapers) soonturnsincreasinglyapocalyptic.We firstlearnthatthetwinblastshave rotatedtheEarth’saxisby11degrees, rapidlyalteringweathersystemsacross theplanet,whichiscausingbrutal-
BritishLionFilms"TheDaytheEarthCaughtFire"
heattosearoverLondon.Itisthen revealedthatthebombshaveinfact alteredthecourseoftheEarth’sorbit, sendingitclosertotheSun,withBill McGuirepredictingtherebeingonlyfour monthsleftoflife
“
WhatTheDaytheEarthCaughtFire offersisanintriguingandfrightening glimpseintohowsocietywillreact followingamajorclimaticcollapse, somethingthatwillhappenthiscenturyif wedonotovercomeouraddictionto fossilfuels.Waterbecomesaprecious mineral,onlyavailabletopeopleinsmall bucketscollectedinlongquenes.Mad Max-styleanarchyoccurs,asindividuals giveintonihilisticabandon,stealingthe watertoengageinpitchblackcarnival streetpartiesastheyterrorizehomes andpeople.
Whatismostinteresting,andperhaps mostterrifying,isthegeneralsocialand politicalapathythatoccurs Dailyrituals seemtocontinueunabated,suchas StenningandMcGuirecontinuingtowork atthenewspaper.Thereisnorevolution thefacelessgovernment,onlydepicted inmonotoneandsickeningRPradio broadcasts,continuewithoutsomuchas aflickerofresistance.Thedecisionson howtosolvetheself-createddystopian crisisaremadebythesamecloseddoorleaders,unaccountabletonoone.
Ourcurrentpoliticalsituationreflects this:internationalcorporationsand governmentshaveransackedthe planet’sresourcesfornearlytwo centuries,andthemajorpolitical oppositionhaslargelybeencontained withinthesphereofactivism.Yes,thereis personalresponsibilityandliability we consumetoomuch,wastefoodand plasticandpetrol.Butthisconsumption isfacilitatedandintentionallycreatedby thosesamegovernmentsand corporations Inthefilm,governments knewthattheapocalypticdisasterwas unfoldingbuttheinformationonly becomespublicduetotheinvestigative
reportingofStenningandMcGuire. Likewise,oilcompanieshaveknown aboutclimatechangesince1977,years beforeitbecamepublicknowledge,and spenttheinterveningyearsspending millionsonpromotingmisinformation “
TheDaytheEarthCaughtFirecontains someutterlybeautifuldepictionsofa dystopianworld;intheopening sequence,weseeStenningwalking aloneinaLondonsurroundedby shatteredwindowsandbattered buildings,thescreencloakedinadeep amberglow,astheSunshootsitsrays ontothecitywithoutmercy.Yet,thisis notwhatmakesthefilmterrifying,it’s society’sacceptanceofitsfatewithouta virulentpushbackagainstthosewho causedit.Climatecollapsebynuclear weaponsandfossilfuelsaredistinctbut ultimatelyarriveatthesameend,an inhospitableplanetwithnothingleftbut fatalisticremnantsofmodernity.
Atonepoint,Stenningdeclaresangrilyto McGuirethatthe“humanracehasbeen poisoningitselfwithasmileonitsface.” Insomesensehe’sright.Wewalkintothe supermarkethappythatwecanbuy threedifferentsizesofpre-packed mangochunksinsingle-useplastic,not thinkingofthedamagethatcauses,the thingsthatkill.Butasisbrilliantly presentedinthefilm,therealpoisonis thelackofdesirewehavetochange power,toholdthosewhocorruptthe planetaccountable Instead,wetakeit withtheshakeofaheadandasigh.
Off-the-GridFilms forEarthDay
Haveyoueverthoughtaboutwhatitwouldbeliketogooffthe-grid?Goonathrillingadventurewiththesefilmsand documentariesaboutlivinginthewilderness.Thesenature titlesareagreatadditiontoanyEarthDayprogramming. ThislistisinspiredbytherecentreleaseNomadland,starring FrancesMcDormand,whichfollowsFern'spostGreatRecessionjourneyacrosstheAmericanWestwhile livinginhervan.Whetherfictionalnarrativesortruestories, thesefilmswillinspireotherstoembarkonan excitingjourneytodiscoverthemselves.
Wild
AcademyAwardwinnerReese Witherspoontakesaudiencesona transformativeexpeditioninthe2014film directedbyJean-MarcValléebasedon CherylStrayed's2012memoirWild:From LosttoFoundonthePacificCrestTrail. Afterapersonaltragedy,Cherylwenton ahundred-milehikebyherselfwhich changedherlifeforeverWitherspoon shinesintherole,particularlyalongside LauraDernashermother.
ReadourreviewofWild.
GetyourcopyoftheWild4KBlu-rayby clickinghere
Land RobinWrightrecentlymadeher directorialfeaturefilmdebutinthis movingdrama.Similar toWild,LandcentersaroundEdee (Wright)whoseeksanewsolitarylifein theWyomingmountainsafterfacinga heartbreakingtragedy Wright'sfilmhas remarkablecinematographyandshe deliversanemotionalperformance.
GetyourcopyoftheLandBlu-rayDVDby clickinghere
HappyPeople:AYearintheTaiga
LegendarydocumentarianWerner Herzogisnostrangertoexploringnature andin2010heteamedupwithDmitry Vasyukovforthisfeature.Thisfilm documentsthedailyworkandlifeofthe Russiantrappersinavillageofthe SiberianTaiga Thedocumentaryfeels verydown-to-earthinitsdepictionofthe citizen'sdifficultchallenges.Also,you havetoloveHerzog’squirkyhumorwith hisnarration.
ReadourreviewofreviewofHappy People:AYearintheTaiga.
GetyourcopyoftheHappyPeople:A YearintheTaigaDVDbyclickinghere
SwissArmyMan
Notmanyaudienceswereexpectingto seeDanielRadcliffeplayarotting,farting, deadcorpseinDanielScheinert’sSwiss ArmyMan.Theuniquefilmhadits premiereattheSundanceFilmFestivalin 2016andreceivedpraisefrom audiences.Hank(PaulDano),a depressedandhopelessman,isstuckon adesertedislandandbecomesfriends withadeadcorpse,Mandy(Radcliffe), andtheyembarkonahypnotic adventuretoreturnhome.Thisbizarre anddarkcomedyexploresthepower ofDanoandRadcliffe'sfriendshipand truechemistry.
ReadourreviewofSwissArmyMan. GetyourcopyoftheSwissArmyMan Blu-rayDVDbyclickinghere
AloneintheWilderness
Travelbackto1968withconservationist, wildlifephotographer,writerDick Proennekewholivedaloneinthe mountainsofAlaskainalogcabinfor thirtyyears. Hebecamethedirectorof thisdocumentaryreleasedin2004but hadpassedawayatage86inApril2003 Thisdocumentaryshowshistimeinthe wildernessbybuildingthelogcabinhe livedinandspentmonthswithno humancontact.Therealsohappensto beaparttwoavailableontheweband isamust-watchforanyonewhohas desirestobuildtheirowncabin.
GetyourcopyoftheAloneinthe WildernessDVDbyclickinghere.
IntotheWild
Anotherwildernessfilmbasedonthe bookbyJonKrakauer Directed, produced,andwrittenbySeanPenn,Into theWildisbasedontheinternational bestsellerandnon-fictionbookofthe samename.Setintheearly90s,Emile HirshstarsasChrisMcCandlessa.k.a AlexanderSupertramp,amanwhohiked acrossNorthAmericanintotheAlaskan-
Wilderness.ThefilmtellsMcCandless’struestoryandjourneywhilemeeting charactersplayedbyVinceVaughn,KristenStewart,andHalHolbrooktonameafew. Thefilmfeaturesanoriginal-songwrittenbyPearlJamvocalistEddieVedderwhich wonthefilmaGoldenGlobeandthefilmwentontoearntwoAcademyAwards includingBestEditingandBestSupportingActorforHolbrook.
ReadourreviewofIntotheWild.
GetyourcopyoftheIntotheWildDVDbyclickinghere.
LeaveNoTrace
Anothermust-watchisDebraGranik’s2018dramabasedonPeterRock’sbookMy Abandonment.Inthefilm,afatherandhisthirteen-year-olddaughterliveinthe expansivePark,Oregonwoodsandurbanparkwhereasmallmishapcouldgetthem discoveredandchangetheirlivesforever LeaveNoTracecurrentlysitsat100%on RottenTomatoes.BenFosterandThomasinMcKenziegiveremarkableperformances inthisemotionalfamilialdramahelmedbyGranik,whopreviouslydirectedJennifer LawrenceinWinter’sBone.MichaelMcDonough’spicturesquecinematographyalso standsout,alovelettertothebeautyofnature.
ReadourreviewofLeaveNoTrace.
GetyourcopyoftheLeaveNoTraceBlu-raybyclickinghere.
FromScratch:WhattheFood andTravelShowTeachesUs AboutFoodSustainability
InFromScratch,arealityfoodandtravelshowstarringandco-createdby DavidMoscow,foodisapreciousresource.EveryingredientMoscowcooks withisnaturallysourcedwithrespectfortheenvironmentsandculturesthat producethem.
Mostofusdon’toftenthinkaboutwhereourfoodcomesfrom.Notsofor DavidMoscow,whointhefirstepisodeofFromScratchfindshimselfmilking awaterbuffaloinNaples,Italy.He’saskingthequestionbeforewecan:“How didIgethere?”
Theanswerissurprisinglysimple.Missingadeeperconnectionwithhisfood, theNewYork-raisedactorstartedFromScratchamissiontonaturally sourcefoodandrecreatedishesfromdifferentcultures allfromscratch,of course.
Whatisfoodsustainability?
Foodsustainabilityencompassesvarious practicesaimedatconservingthe environment,preservingvitalresources, ensuringglobalfoodsecurity,and bolsteringeconomicstability.By adoptingsustainablefarming techniques,wecanreducethe environmentalfootprintofagriculture, minimizeresourcedepletion,andprotect biodiversity Thisnotonlysafeguardsour naturalecosystemsbutalsohelps combatclimatechange.
HowdoesDavidMoscowadvocatefor foodsustainabilityinFromScratch?
DavidMoscowwantstoconnectwithhis foodandtheenvironmentbynaturally sourcingit,buthowexactlydoeshedo this?Ineachepisode,therookie cook/adventurermeetswithacheffrom adifferentcountryorU.S.state.Theygive Moscowadishtotry,thengivehimalist ofingredientshemusthunt,gather, forage,andfishbeforelearninghowto cookthedishfromscratch.
Forexample,MoscowvisitsCostaRicain oneepisode.Thelush,green environmentiswhereChefManuelat OriginsRestaurantenlistsMoscowto sourceingredientsforhiscevicheand gar.Intheprocess,Moscowhastocut downapalmtreetocollectsapfor fermentation.Heharvestsvanillabeans thathavebeenmaturingformonths Andhespendslonghoursfishingforthe prehistoricgaspar,afishnativetoCosta Rica.
Whyisnaturallysourcingfood important?
Withmostoftheworldnotgivinga thoughttowhereourfoodcomesfrom, it’svitalthattherearepeople,likethose whomMoscowencountersinFrom Scratch,whoaremindfulofboth
environmentalandconsumerhealthin theprocessofgrowingtheirfood.Itcan beverydifficultwhentherestofthe worldisgoingadifferentway.
IntheFromScratchseason2premiere, MoscowvisitsMarvin’sGardentopick applesandpeppers.There,ownerMarvin Birtstrugglestokeephisfarmgoingby refusingtheuseofpesticidesandthus sufferingdamagetohisproduce.Butthe payoffisimmense.Because,intheend, placeslikeMarvin’sGardenproduce foodthatisbetternotonlyforusas consumersbutalsofortheenvironment.
Howcanwepracticefoodsustainability?
DavidMoscow’sapproachtocookingis certainlyambitious,butthatdoesn’t meantherearen’twayswecan incorporatehismethodsathome,such as:
-Gardening.Moscowgetsalotofhis producefrompeoplewhogrowfoodon farmsandingreenhouses.Witha personalorcommunitygarden,youcan dothesameonasmallerscale.Youmay evenbeabletogetacommunitygarden startedatyourlocallibrary.
-Fishing Fishingisagreatwaytobring fooddirectlyfromnaturetoyourplate–butyouneedtofirstensureyou’refishing incleanandunpollutedwaters.Typically, websitesforstategovernmentsand stateparkswilllistviablefishingspotsin yourarea.
-Hunting.Dependingonwhereyoulive, it’snotalwaysfeasibletogetoutand huntforyourownfood.Ifyoudolivein anareawhereit’spossible,makesure youhavetheproperpermitsandare operatingwithinlocallaws.Themeat industryisnotoriousforneedlessly mistreatinganimalsandhurtingthe environment,sohuntingforyourself-
ratherthanpurchasing meatfromdomesticated livestockcanbeagreat waytoreduceyour carbonfootprintandbea moreethicalconsumer
-Foraging.Foragingcan beadifficultpractice,but ifyoucandososafely andethically,it’sagreat waytoconnectwith nature.Whilesomestates banforaging,othersallow itoncertainstate-owned lands.Makesuretoforage accordingtolocallaw, educateyourselfonwhat issafetoforageandeat, anddon’toverharvest.A goodruleofthumbisto notcollectmorethanfive percentofproducefrom anindividualpatch Howeveryoumay attempttosourceyour ownfood,remember DavidMoscow’swordsof wisdomduringhis adventuresinFrom Scratch.Forhim, harvestingnature’s resourcesisabout“trying toworkinharmonywith nature,ratherthan subduingit.”
Ofcourse,natureisnot alwaysgoingtobe prevalentwhereeveryone lives.Eventhen,there’sthe optionofsupporting farmers,aswellaslocal storesandrestaurants thatnaturallysourcetheir ownfood.Andwhilenot everyonehasthe resourcesand opportunitiesMoscow doesinhisrealitycooking show,FromScratchwillat theveryleastinspireyou topayattentiontowhere
yourfoodcomesfrom, andtomakeadeeper connectionwithyourfood andwithyour environment.
From Scratchis afood andtravel showwith arealworld impact.
FromScratchisafood andtraveldocumentary showlikenoother,inthat itdeeplycaresabout naturalenvironmentsand culturesasmuchasthe foodMoscowplates. Whileyouwon’talwaysbe abletoemulatethe show’smouth-watering recipes unlessyou’re abletosmokebutterwith lambdungoraccess freshwaterfrom300feet belowthesurfaceofMalta you’resuretobe inspiredbyFromScratch’s respectfultreatmentof natureinthefoodsourcingprocess.
Whetheryou’rea professorteaching nutritionorenvironmental justice,alibrarian
organizingafoodliteracy program,orjustan individualwonderinghow youcannaturallysource foodforyourself,From Scratchisaneducational, entertainingresourcefor yourneeds.
Viewersaretakenona captivatingjourneyto explorewhatsustainable foodstrulyentail, sheddinglightonthe importanceof environmentallyfriendly andsociallyresponsible foodpractices.Theseries notonlyeducatesbut alsoinspires,makingita must-watchforanyone interestedinconsciously souringtheirfood FromScratchcurrently hastwoseasons. Youcanpurchasethe foodsustainability documentaryserieson DVDorfinditonseveral platforms,includingSling, fuboTV,andPhilo.Youcan alsopurchase therecentlypublished bookofthesamename.
ThedocumentaryRebellionisthefirstfeature-lengthpresentationaboutthe relativelynewmovementExtinctionRebellion Itcombinesissuesofsocialfreedoms, democracy,andclimatechange.Itisequallyilluminatingandinfuriating.
AlsoknownasXR,ExtinctionRebellionwasstartedin2018byRogerHallam,afarmer fromWales.ThedrivingforcebehindXRisfightingforclimatechangebyanymeans necessary,whichofteninvolvesactsofcivildisobedience.Whilethefilmdoesfocus onHallamandhisefforts,apivotalfigureisFarhanaYamin,ahumanrightslawyer borninPakistan.ThefilmexploresYamin’swillingnesstodowhateverittakesforthe causeshebelievesin.
YaminwasinstrumentalinthedevelopmentoftheParisClimateAgreements,most notablyherinsistenceonthepromiseofnetzeroemissionsby2050 Aspartof ExtinctionRebellion,in2019YaminwaspartofamassiveprotestinEnglandwhereshe gluedherselftoShell’sLondonoffice.YaminisemblematicofXRasawhole:theycare aboutfightingclimatechangeandwillgotoextreme(evenlaw-breaking)lengthsto protectit.
Thefilmnotonlydepictsthatactofdisobediencein2019.Italsoillustratestheworld’s reactiontoit.TheUKsoonafterdeclaredaclimateemergency,propellingtheissueto thenationalstage.CountrieslikeBangladeshandCanadasoonmadesimilar announcements.WhilethesedevelopmentshelpedexpandXR,thefilmalsofocuses oninternalstrifewithintheorganization.(Yaminasofthiswritingisn’tpartofthe groupanymore) Theyouthcometofocus,andit’shardenoughtofightclimate changewithoutdealingwithchangeswithinone’sownorganization
JavaFilms|EnvironmentDocumentary|Russian,English;Englishsubtitles|52 minutes|2022
TheYamalpeninsulaistheworld’slargestnaturalgasexploitationzone.Sincethe appearanceofthefirstSovietgeologyexpeditionsinthe1950s,thewayoflifeofthe nativeNenetspeoplehasslowlychangedduetoacculturationandclimatechange NenetsvsGasfollowstwogroupsofnomadicNenets––called‘brigades’andgiven numbersbythegovernment––astheymovetheirreindeerherdstotheirwinter pastures.
WithfurtherencroachmentbytheRussianenergymegacorporation,Gazprom,more andmoretownsbecomecitiesandmoreandmorepasturesbecomepumpingor processingsites.Formorethan200years,theNenetshavecalledtheYamal peninsulahome,butwiththecombinedforcesofclimatechangeand industrialization,howmuchlongerwilltheirtraditionalwayoflifesurvive?
Usingasimplestyleandonlyinterjectingwithvoiceoverswhennecessaryfor understanding,NenetsvsGasisanoutstandingethnographyofanoften-forgotten SiberianIndigenousgroup.ThismultifacetedexaminationoftheNenets’lifestyle,the encroachmentofbigenergyconcernsontheirancientmigratoryroutes,andthe worseningeffectsofclimatechangeonthelandtheyandtheirreindeerrelyonseeks tohelpbringabetterunderstandingofthechangestheNenetsfaceeveninthebest casescenario.
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
Manywillrecalltherecord-breakingwildfiresthatsweptthroughtheAmazonin2019 Journalistandthisdocumentary’sdirectorAnneleenOphoffreportedonthefiresand theirimpactsonthelocalindigenouscommunities.Deforestationandwildfires haven’tstoppedinthemeantime,soOphoffreturnedin2024todocumentthe situationinBolivia.Herjourneybeginswiththevolunteerfirefighterswhofightthe flamesoftenblamedonslash-and-burnagriculture.Toseeiftheseclaimshave validity,shetheninvestigatesseveral“homesteads”thatareemptycorporatelandgrabsandonewhichisoccupiedbeforeseekingoutthosewhofarmwithalternative means.Thefilmendsinasmalltownwhereayearlyfestivalgoesondespitethe turmoiloffiresandeconomicinstability.
HavingseensomeofOphoff’spreviouswork,IcansaythatBehindtheSmokescreen ismuchlikeherotherfilms,utilizingexposétechniqueswithamorecinémavérité slant,oftenbreakingtherulesofbothstylestodeliverafullerideaofthevarietyof viewpointsandeffectsofanissue.Ifyouoryourpatronsareafan,you’llwanttohave thistitleinyourcollection.WhileOphoffoccasionallybecomesasubjectherselfand oftenofferingvoiceoverexplanations,thecameraitselfremainsobjective,simply recordingwhatissaidanddoneinfrontofit.Therearenojudgements,nospeaking overothersubjects,andatruthfullackofeditingtocreateafalsedramaticnarrative.
Inthisway,thosewhoenjoyjournalismorfly-on-the-wallcinematographywillenjoy BehindtheSmokescreenjustasmuchasthebleeding-heartenvironmentalistswho willfindasimilardrawtothistitle Librarypatronsandstudentsseekinginformation ontheenvironmentalandeconomicsituationinBoliviawillwanttoseethisfilmfirst andforemost,butitisalsoaperfectchoiceforfilmseriesfocusingonwildfires, environmentalism,activism,andSouthAmerica.HighlyRecommended.
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
BullfrogFilms|EnvironmentalDocumentary|59minutes|2024
Threecasestudiesinplasticpollutionrolledintoone,Single-UsePlanetbeginsin BeaverCounty,Pennsylvania.There,thelocalsarguewiththestategovernment aboutthenecessityforasprawlingethanecrackerplant.Localspointtoalready pollutednaturalresourcesandwatersuppliesfromthelong-gonesteelindustry,but theirleadership,temptedbylobbyingkickbacks,insistthatmassivetaxbreaksare neededjustasmuchasthehugefacility.
Fromthere,thefilmmovestoLouisiana’sinfamouscanceralley,exploringthe connectionsbetweenhistoricblackcommunitiesandtheconstructionof environmentandhealth-harmingindustry.Upriver,wefindourselvesinthenation’s seatofpowertoseehowbigmoneyinfluencesthepoliticalsystem,andwhy environmentaleffortshavebeensounsuccessfulsincethescienceonclimate changeandconspicuousconsumptioncameoutinthe1970s.
ThestyleofdocumentaryinSingle-UsePlanettrendsold-schoolandabitdry.Inan attempttoalleviatethis,someSchoolhouseRock-esquemusicalinterludesseparate eachchapterofthedocumentary.Thiswillhelpwithitsappealtoayounger audience Asanadult,Icouldtakeitorleaveit,butitdidserveasagoodbookendfor eachtopic
JaguarPeople(TigreGente)isacompellingdocumentarythatshedslightonthe alarmingriseoftheillegaljaguartradeinSouthAmerica.SetprimarilyinBolivia's MadidiNationalPark,knownforitsrichbiodiversity,thefilmfollowsthepark’s determineddirectorasheembarksonamissiontohalttheillicittradethatthreatens toeradicatethejaguarpopulation.Jaguarsarebeinghuntedandtraffickedat alarmingratestomeetagrowingdemandinChina,wheretheyareusedas substitutesfortigerpartsintraditionalmedicine.
Thedocumentaryalsohighlightstheeffortsoftwobraveindividuals—aBolivianpark rangerandayoungjournalistfromHongKong—whorisktheirlivestogoundercover andexposethedangerousnetworkfuelingthistrade.Theirjourneytakesthemfrom thedense,mist-coveredjunglesoftheAmazontothebustlingwildlifemarketsof China.
Astheyworktostopthejaguartradebeforeit’stoolate,thefilmdelvesintodeeper questionsofempathy,responsibility,andtheneedforculturalunderstandingin globalconservationefforts.JaguarPeoplehasgarneredrecognitionatmultiple internationalfilmfestivals,emphasizingitssignificanceinraisingawarenessabout thisurgentenvironmentalissue.
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
Docuseek|Environment,Gender,PoliticalIssuesDocumentary|English,Spanish; Englishsubtitles|58minutes|2022
TheIllusionofAbundancefollowsseveralindigenousclimateactivistsandgroupsas theyfacetheharshrealitiesofglobaldevelopment,seekingjusticeagainst transnationalcorporationswhohavestolenandpoisonedtheirlands.Annually, around200suchactivistslosetheirlivesinthesestruggleswithcorporations,with LatinAmericabearingthebruntofthisalarmingstatistic
Thefilmspotlightslandmarklegalbattles:GermangiantTüvSüdfacesalawsuitfrom Brazilianfloodvictims'families,DutchdevelopmentbankFMOinstigateslegalattacks againstindigenoussmallfarmersinHonduras,andNewmont,theworld’slargestgold miningcompany,potentiallyheadstoUScourtsforalanddisputewithaPeruvian woman Withanarrativespanningcontinentsanddecades,TheIllusionof Abundanceexposestheshiftinglandscapeofglobalizationturningnational.
CentralandSouthernAmericanjudgesandpoliticianshesitatetogreenlightthese internationaltrialsdespitetheundeniableimpactonlives.Thedocumentarygoes beyondamereexposéofthehumantollofneocolonialism itservesasapoignant explorationoftheillusionarypromiseofabundanceinourinterconnectedworld.
TheIllusionofAbundanceisanoutstandingdocumentaryfromstarttofinish.Erika GonzalezRamirezandMatthieuLietaertcreateacompellingyetconciseexposéon theactivitiesofthemultinationalextractiveindustryinCentralandSouthAmerica It’s hardtobelievejusthowmuchcontentandinformationmadeitintothis58-minutelongfilm.IcouldhaveswornIwassittingonmycouchfortwicethatamountoftime! It’sararethingforafilmtodoitsjobsobeautifullyandeffectively:Ican’tthinkofa singlecomplaint!
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
GEJ|Environment&FoodDocumentary|English,Korean,Japanese:Englishsubtitles| 74minutes
Thisdocumentarycoverssustainablefarmingfollowingthemethodsandphilosophy ofMasanobuFukuokawhosefamousbook“OneStrawRevolution”hadaglobal impactonecologywhenpublishedinthe1970s.SeveralofFukuoka’sdisciples, climatescientists,andfarmerslendtheirvoicestothisdocumentary.Somberand artful,itisbestdescribedbythefilmmakers:"Duringthemakingofthisfilm,theUnited Nation’sFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)releasedareportwhichmadeclear totheworldthatweonlyhave60yearsoffarmingleftifwecontinueourecologically destructivewaysofgrowingfood.Addtothis,issuesofsocialandeconomic inequality,resourcedepletion,andachangingclimatethatthreatensourvery existence,andthepathforwardseemsdauntingattheleast.”Throughthreesections, thedocumentaryexplainsthepressingneedtotransformourmethodsandmindsets aroundfarming ThetwofilmmakerscapturefootageandinterviewsinJapan,Korea, andCalifornia,highlightingtheneedforanewagriculturalrevolutiontohelpsaveour planet.
Thefactthatthiswasatwo-personproductionimpressedmeimmediately.The cinematographythroughoutFinalStrawisintriguingandinspiring.Artfulsectionssuchasthesoundcollageatthefilm’sbeginningrepresentingmodernlife-are delicatetouchesthataddsubstantialimpacttotheinformationandphilosophy sharedthroughoutthedocumentary.Throughoutthedocumentary,weareshown howmechanized,industrialfarmingisstrippingthelifefromthesoil.Arguments againstthesuicidaleconomicdogmaofinfinitegrowthareplacedfrontandcenter, rallyingagainstthecurrentstrainofeconomicsandpoliticsthatvaluesmoneyover nature,andconsumerismoverhealth
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
DeniseDragiewicz|EnvironmentalJusticeDocumentary|English|77minutes|2024
Featuringfootagefrom2015through2023,andcoveringtransgressionsfromasfar backasthemid1990s,IntheLandofPalmOildetailstheunfortunatelymorecommon thannotstoryofpowerfuleconomicentitiespushingasideanyone-andanythingintheirwayinthenameofprofit.
TheGoliathofthisexpositorydocumentaryareanonymouscorporationswhodestroy thenativeenvironmentsofIndonesiainordertorepurposethelandforpalmoil plantations.TheDavidarelocalvillagersandfarmers,specificallyfromKalimantanon theislandofBorneo,whonotonlyhavetheirlandstolenincertaininstances,butwho arealsosubjecttoharmfulanddevastatingconditionsbecauseofpollutioncaused byfiresthatareusedtocleartheland.
Structurally,this77-minute,EyesoftheWorldproductionfromdirectorDenise Dragienwiczuseshandheldfootageandfirst-personaccountstopaintabroad pictureofthedevastationthatiscausedbypalmoilplantations.Whetherit's interviewswitheverydaycitizens,orconversationswithanimalactivistswhocarefor thedepletedorangutanpopulationwhohavebeendisplacedbythelandclearing, footageoffellowactivities,orinsightsfromexpertsastowhythelocallandis susceptibletofires,thefilmtouchesonmanysidesoftheissuetocreatea compellingpictureforviewers.Though,onesidethatisnotpresented,orattempted tobepresented,iscommentsfromthepalmoilcorporationsthemselves.Whilethisis asmallelementmissingfromthefilm,it’snotedasnotaneasypuzzlepiecetoobtain giventheanonymousnatureinwhichthesecorporationsconductedbusinessunder relativelyfriendlyrelationswiththelocalgovernment.
Readthefulldocumentaryreviewhere.
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Tocheckavailabilityandpurchasingoptionsvisit:
DVDs: MidwestTape Baker&Taylor
AllianceEntertainmentCorporation MVDEntertainmentGroup
Streaming: Kanopy Hoopla FilmPlatform
Licensing:GetDigitalSiteLicenses(DSL)andPublicPerformance Rights(PPR)directlyfromthefilm'sdistributor.
