Weather Report 2008
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by Jennifer Kawaja, Brenda Longfellow, Julia Sereny for Sienna Films; Gerry Flahive for the National Film Board of Canada
Directed by Brenda Longfellow
DVD, color, 52 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Environmental Studies, Geography, Science
Date Entered: 05/29/2009
Reviewed by Carrie M. Macfarlane, Reference and Instruction Librarian for the Sciences, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VTThis documentary reports on the worldwide effects of climate change. It unfolds like a well-written novel, with each chapter contributing to the full narrative, yet it is concise, educational and visually stunning.
The film opens in Nunavut, Canada. The camera zooms in on a melting block of ice so that that the viewer feels as if she is floating right beside it. The style of this scene is representative of the film as a whole. Crystal-clear images overlaid with minimal commentary from the filmmakers allow the viewer to feel as if he has gained first-hand experience with problems that might, so far, exist only on the other side of the globe.
But the film is not only about problems. Respected figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai describe possible solutions like Kenya’s Green Belt Movement. A segment about rapid development in China features a plan for a new, sustainable city. After a segment about the relationship between coal usage and monsoon flooding in urban India, there is a segment about solar power.
With thoughtful discussion questions supplied by a teacher, even younger viewers will feel the impact of this film. It is highly recommended for junior high-general adult viewers.
Awards
- "The Green," Sundance Channel
- Bronze Remi Award, WorldFest International Film Festival