Documentaries on climate change began to be made decades ago, with fundamental titles from the 90s like ‘Baraka’, but it has been in the 21st century that they have almost become a genre in themselves. In addition, stars from Hollywood and other film fields, such as Leonardo Dicaprio, have taken a stand on the issue and financed several films. We selected five of these documentaries that alert while probing for answers.
1.’An Inconvenient Truth’ (2006), by Davis Guggenheim
It would be Davis Guggenheim, a director who until then had only directed episodes of television series, who would lay the important first stone in terms of the documentary on climate change. Produced by Lawrence Bender, Tarantino’s former partner, it continues the theories about global warming spread by Al Gore, vice president under Bill Clinton and renowned environmentalist. Oscar for best documentary. Available for rent on Apple TV and Google Play.
2.’The 11th Hour’ (2007), by Leila and Nadia Conners
The first of two documentaries made by Leila Conners and produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the Hollywood actor most aware of the subject. The film catalogs all types of disasters (floods, hurricanes, droughts, famines, extreme heat waves) product of climate change and also seeks possible solutions to rebalance the ecosystem. Director and actor would repeat in ‘Ice in Flames’ (2019): nothing had changed. Available on Amazon and HBO Max, respectively.
3. ‘GasLand’ (2010), by Josh Fox
Josh Fox had only directed one fiction film when one day he received a proposal from an energy company to lease an important part of a piece of land he owned where they had discovered a natural gas field. Undecided about giving up the ground, he took a camera and traveled across the United States to learn about natural gas exploitations and check the dangers of pollution and oil extraction. Available on Filmin.
4. ‘Tomorrow’ (2015), by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent
Related news
United States, France, United Kingdom, Finland, Iceland and India by Cyril Dion, actress and director Mélanie Laurent and a small camera and sound team. The film arises from a report that announced the disappearance of part of the human species in the year 2100. But far from looking only for the causes of the drastic transformation, the directors perceive solutions in the almost anonymous work of various economists, farmers, politicians and educators. Available on Prime Video and Filmin.
5. ‘Before it’s too late’ (2016), by Fisher Stevens
Also known as ‘Planet Earth, are we history?’, it focuses on the deterioration of the environment and the salvation of some species and ecosystems in danger of extinction. It is the largest documentary on the subject, studded with stars: Leonardo DiCaprio is the narrator and producer, Martin Scorsese co-produces, the script is signed by Mark Monroe –writer of ‘The cove’, about the tuna massacres in Japan– and the music is by Mogwai, Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. Available on Disney+.