Nature in Film: The Best Picks

1. The Biggest Little Farm

The Biggest Little Farm is a documentary created by John Chester that describes an attempt to farm without any degenerative practices such as the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and tilling. John and Molly Chester’s Apricot Lane Farm embraces healthy soil, humane animal practices, and organic food, showing visitors and students how to adapt farming management styles based on nature’s signals. This documentary highlights a new way to grow food and raise animals while still managing to have an eco-friendly mindset.

Source: Apricot Lane Farms 

2. Seaspiracy 

Seaspiracy is a documentary that explores the impacts of commercials fishing and plastic pollution on oceans. This film criticizes “conservation fishing” and explains that there is no such thing as “killing fish sustainably”. Their focus is mainly on commercial fishing where they describe the impact each type of fishing has on specific marine organisms. This film opens viewer’s eyes to what is really happening beyond the coast of our land.

Source: REFASH

3. Before the Flood

Before the Flood is a film that explores a three-year journey with Leonardo DiCaprio about the future and dangers of climate change. DiCaprio travels to five continents and the Arctic to uncover the reality of global warming. Following scientists on their expeditions, he gains firsthand insight into the devastating effects of climate change. He meets with world leaders, some of which deny climate change, in order to discuss their future plans on how to combat it.

Source: Scientia Magazine 

Movies 

1. Don't Look Up

Although this film is not directly tied to climate change and global warming, its message of an impending destruction on human civilization can be referenced back to our current environmental issues. Starring, once again, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawerence, the film describes two scientists who discover a comet known as a “planet killer” headed towards Earth. They rapidly try to convince the public and White House that they need to take action in fighting the comet. Similar to climate change, our world is changing rapidly and at a concerning rate that people are trying to warn us about. Watch this film and see the references to environmental issues that have both a social and political impact.

Source: Madras Courier

2. Happy Feet 

This movie explores the world of penguins and their way of communicating through song and dancing. However, this film’s environmental message is strong. It focuses on the descriptive impact of overfishing, habitat disruption and pollution on penguin populations and their food supply. It urges audiences to recognize their responsibilities for these creatures’ problems. Although this is not what the movie’s plot is centered around, the film director, George Miller states that “telling a story about Antarctic was necessary in order to address environmental issues, making the film a call to action for viewers to more mindful and responsible”.