Life itself
Five documentaries that make contemporary socio-environmental concerns visible. The ideal format to describe an increasingly complex world.
ATUEL, the story of a river in the desert (Argentina, 2022)
In the classroom we learned that the rivers that are born in the mountains flow into the sea, but the Atuel does not reach the Atlantic. Its artificial shortening is the product of interventions on Mendoza soil that aim to make better use of the resource. This film, produced by Mariana Bollati and Pierre Heistein with the direction of Ben Cook, records the 480 kilometers that go from its origin in the Andes to its anticipated ending. Like a travel diary, a voiceover accompanies the beautiful images that follow one another to the rhythm of contemplation. Interspersed interviews reflect on the ancestral link of people with the nature of the place and, especially, about everything that water makes possible. The film is complemented by a multi-award-winning video game on climate change developed by the independent cooperative Matajuegos in collaboration with The 12.01 Project (free to download).
Available on Youtube. Duration: 1 h 17 min / Video game: on the itch.io platform
NOT HERE (Argentina, 2022)
Together with public figures such as Chino Darín, Natalie Pérez and Diego Poggi, Greenpeace Argentina warns about the danger of offshore oil exploitation in the Argentine Sea. It proposes a journey through the past and present of an activity that has had and has dramatic consequences for the environment and the population, with special mention of oil spills. On the other hand, the film points out that the seismic exploration of the sea floor prior to drilling –approved in December 2021 by the Argentine State– compromises the life of the southern whale, among other species. Faced with the repudiation of scientists, socio-environmental organizations, universities and coastal communities, the permits were suspended preventively but there is still nothing definitive. Produced by Greenpeace Argentina, Chile and Colombia.
Available on Youtube. Duration: 26 minutes
Leaders of Our Time (United States, 2022)
The series produced by Prince Harry and Meghan rescues individual stories from people who believed in their power to change. As Greta Thunberg says: one person can do a lot. In the episode that has her as the protagonist, the young Swedish activist tells her story in the first person and warns that the current state of affairs does not only refer to environmental issues. “We need to change all aspects of our lives, including the way we treat others,” she says. Other chapters are dedicated to figures such as pioneering feminist Gloria Steinem, human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson and Siya Kolisi, the first black captain of the South African rugby union team.
Available on Netflix. Duration: 30 minutes per episode
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (UK, 2020)
The protagonist of this film is a renowned British scientist, a pioneer in the disclosure of life on earth. At 93 years old, the explorer reviews his career to reveal how we came to make our biggest mistake, as he defines the loss of biodiversity that he has witnessed throughout his history. The story –which includes his vision of the future and has a lot of legacy– appeals to convey his deep admiration for the natural world and to persuade us of the need to reverse the ecological disaster. “Nature has understood the secret of life long ago. It's not about saving her, it's about saving ourselves," says David Attenborough. The final message is hopeful and proposes concrete lines of action to preserve our planet.
Available on Netflix. Duration 1h 23min
Wildcat (United States, 2022)
This documentary directed by Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh recounts the experiences of two young people who rescue orphaned animals in the Peruvian Amazon. He –Harry Turner– is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and she –Samantha Zwicker–, a scientist who created the jungle fauna conservation project. Both have had difficult lives and in this act of love towards all living beings, wishes for redemption and self-reparation are read. "We are wild; you and I are animals,” Harry tells an ocelot cub in his care. They depend on each other to save themselves. The jungle as a whole, Harry and Samantha, the local population and the rescued animals have in common the damage suffered and the will to survive. Between painful passages and other luminous ones, the film enables reflections in various ways, including mental health.
Available on Prime Video. Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
