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An Inconvenient Truth: Examines the science and politics of Climate Change. Well worth watching, although English audiences may prefer Sir David Attenborough’s “The Truth About Climate Change”. |
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Black Gold: Uses the world of coffee production as a case study to examine global trade practices. |
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EcoVillage Pioneers: This film follows the development of a number of eco-villages. Some would say that the people featured are creating the future. Others would say that they are re-creating the past. Most would have an opinion as to whether their efforts represent a desirable, or feasible, approach for the masses. Why not watch this film and decide for yourself? |
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Fast Food Nation: Fast food nation catalogues the ill-effects (I won’t say ill winds) brought about by junk food. Sadly, we can’t just sit back and laugh at the Americans during this film, since the UK has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe. |
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Flow- For Love of Water: You’ve heard of ‘peak oil’, but what about ‘peak water’? The human population has doubled since the 1970s and pressure on water supplies is growing. Within the UK, especially in the South-East, water shortages are now common and the need to conserve water is pressing. |
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Food, Inc: A study of the food production industry which will challenge you to rethink where and how you buy your food. |
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GasLand: This film is particularly relevant to the UK. It examines the secretive and controversial practice of ‘Fracking’ for gas. Apart from distracting efforts to develop energy efficiency and renewable projects, fracking also raises concerns over gas leaks, water table contamination and other types of chemical pollution. Sign a government e-petition here.
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Home: The story of our planet and our endeavours at global housekeeping. ‘Home’ argues that we have 10 years to change our ways before we are overtaken by the damage caused by current trends in consumption. NB, this film has been sponsored by the PPR group and can be viewed in full online for free. |
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* Koyaanisqatsi: Hypnotic and beautiful, this film has no structured plot, no words and no narration. Set to a score by Philip Glass, scenes of nature’s and man’s efforts are presented ‘as seen’. The viewer is invited to draw their own conclusions, much in the style of Manufactured Landscapes. Even if you haven’t seen it, you’ll be shocked at how many bits of this film you recognise. Released in 1982, this is the granddad of environmental films. |
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* Manufactured Landscapes: Humans have become a force of nature, as documented by the examples in this film. Awe inspiring in scale, the viewer is given space to draw their own conclusions. This film draws upon a much earlier film: “Koyaanisqatsi”. |
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Pig Business: The business of mass producing food makes animals part of the factory. This documentary details the consequences of such an approach for the animals, the environment, and those who eat the meat. |
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Soylent Green: In an overpopulated future version of Earth, a New York police detective finds himself marked for murder by government agents. At stake is a bizarre state secret involving the origins of a revolutionary and needed new foodstuff. |
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* Thank you for smoking: This film depicts the uncomfortable conflicts which arise between the role model that a tobacco lobbyist wants to present to his son and the actions which he takes at work. It will make you squirm, but it also has a dry sense of humour that brings a lighter edge to the film. |
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The Age of Stupid: Set in a future where the human population has collapsed, Pete Postlethwaite plays an archivist who recounts how humans failed to recognise and respond to climate change. |
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* The Corporation: Explores the results of allowing a ‘corporation’ to act as a legal entity which is separate from any human individual. While clever and playful in its approach, this film raises some fundamental questions as to the freedoms granted to corporations. |
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The Emerald Forest: Based on a true story, the son of an American dam engineer is kidnapped by a Brazilian rain forest tribe and raised as one of their own. This film tells the story of what becomes of the boy. |
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The End of the Line: Documents the devastating effect that overfishing has had on the world's fish populations and argues that drastic action must be taken to reverse these trends. |
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* The Truth About Climate Change: This could be described as the English translation of Al Gore’s American ‘Inconvenient Truth’. Sir David Attenborough presents balanced views which show how a gentle and charming approach to sustainability can lead to a new way of life. |
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* The Yes Men Fix the World:Relatively light hearted documentary whereby two mischief makers pose as corporate insiders and infiltrate industry events. Using their industrious alter-egos, they expose the people profiting from Hurricane Katrina, the faces behind the environmental disaster in Bhopal, and other shocking events. |
