The Island President

The Island President is a gripping and awe-inspiring 2011 documentary film that offers an intimate look into the life, struggle, and conviction of Mohamed Nasheed, the charismatic and determined leader who was the first democratically elected president of the tropical paradise called the Maldives. This pertinent documentary is directed by Jon Shenk and produced by Richard Berge and Bonni Cohen.

The movie is set against the backdrop of the undeniable threat of climate change impacting the very existence of the Maldives. A gorgeous archipelago of more than a thousand islands in the Indian Ocean, this paradise on earth is known for its breath-taking beauty - lagoons ringed by coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and vibrant marine life. However, with an average ground level of 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) above sea level, the Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world, making it highly vulnerable to impacts of global warming and sea-level rise. This existential threat forms the premise of the visually stunning documentary.

Mohamed Nasheed, the central figure of the movie, came to power in 2008 after a democratic election, ending 30 years of autocratic rule under the dictatorship of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Prior to his presidency, Nasheed was an activist who had been tortured and imprisoned on several occasions for his advocacy of democratic reforms. Upon assuming office, Nasheed takes on an extraordinary global mission: to transform the Maldives into the world's first carbon-neutral country and to turn global opinion in favor of drastically reduced carbon emissions.

The movie is more than just a biography of the president; it also provides a behind-the-scenes look at international climate change negotiations. One of the gripping sections of the movie covers Nasheed's involvement in the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit, where his impassioned pleas and pragmatic diplomacy played a pivotal role. This is a riveting display of global politics and multinational diplomacy at play, with stakes that could not be higher - the survival of his country and potentially, civilization as we know it.

The Island President is a powerful concoction of biographical narrative, environmental advocacy, and high-stakes diplomacy. On one hand, viewers get to witness the enigma and charisma of Nasheed who, with his earnest and impassioned plea for recognition and help for his tiny nation, becomes the torchbearer in the fight against climate change. On the other hand, the movie fosters a heightened awareness of the real, urgent, and pervasive threat that global warming and sea-level rise pose to many low-lying countries worldwide.

Throughout the film, a special emphasis is put on the urgency and reality of the climate change issue. It goes to great lengths to illustrate that climate change isn't an issue that's looming over the distant future, but one already wreaking devastating effects on human lives, disrupting ecosystems and causing environmental degradation. The movie’s narrative gives climate change faces, places, names and thus relates this global crisis to individual human lives and livelihoods.

Riveting, thought-provoking, and at times, heartbreaking, the documentary’s strong story-telling, powerful visuals, and engaging style make it a must-watch. Complementing the stunning and sobering footage is the emotive soundscape of the movie, featuring songs by the popular English band Radiohead and the evocative score by Marco D'Ambrosio.

For all its natural beauty, the Maldives is a country on the brink, and President Nasheed valiantly battles on multiple fronts to save his country. The Island President offers a stirring perspective into this struggle. The film paints a poignant portrait of a leader driven by an indomitable spirit, seeking to protect his country and his people's way of life, to have their fears recognized and acted upon by the wider global community.

In conclusion, The Island President isn’t just a tale of a man, or a country; it tellingly imparts that in the fight against climate change, the struggle of one is intertwined with the destiny of all. As much a climate change awareness catalyst as it is a political biopic, the film is an essential and inspiring viewing for anyone who cares about the planet, democracy, human resilience and the potential power of global cooperation against shared threats.