This Changes Everything

This Changes Everything is a compelling documentary film inspired by Naomi Klein's international non-fiction bestseller. The film was released in 2015 and it ambitiously addresses climate change in an innovative and thought-provoking manner. The movie is directed by Avi Lewis and stars activist and author Naomi Klein and Stacey Arwen Raab. This Changes Everything presents a well-researched, comprehensive view on the detrimental effects of capitalism and globalization on our world, specifically focusing on the significant environmental impact.

The film takes viewers on a journey to various areas across the globe, from the tar sands of Alberta, the smog-filled cityscape of Beijing, to the coal mines in India, we are shown the environmental disasters that are taking place in the present day. These environmental disasters are presented as symptoms of a larger disease: a system that prioritizes constant economic growth over the wellbeing of our planet.

Naomi Klein authors and narrates the story, investigating the phenomenon of climate change over the course of four years. She finds herself immersed among numerous communities across the globe that are directly grappling with the consequences of the warming planet. Klein challenges us with the assertion that global warming is not about carbon—it's about capitalism. The film persistently highlights how deeply entrenched the culture of consumerism and corporate greed is in Western societies, it suggests that these attributes are major contributors to the environmental disarray being experienced worldwide.

Stacey Arwen Raab aids in weaving these stories, providing depth and richness to the diverse range of experiences the film captures. This Changes Everything compels through the honesty and resilience of the people it highlights – individuals who valiantly persevere in their efforts to save their homes and livelihoods from the damaging effects of environmental degradation against enormous odds. These collective human portraits create a tapestry of resistance and resilience, portraying humanity at crossroads between global devastation and revolution.

Interwoven throughout the film is the narrative of Fort McMurray in Northern Alberta, an area known for its rich oil sands reserves. Here is where we see the confrontation between the industrial might of oil extraction and the rights of indigenous people, who are shown courageously fighting to protect their lands from exploitation.

Thus, the film manages to pack a substantial amount of material into its 89-minute duration, presenting its arguments clearly and cogently without neither rushing through its points nor lingering unnecessarily. The directors have done an excellent job in threading this plethora of global perspectives into a compelling narrative.

The film's photography is also impressive, its scenes depicting the raw beauty of Earth and the alarming effects of climate change create powerful visuals. The filmmakers’ eye for the picturesque coupled with their penchant for marshaling facts and illustrating principles through human stories make the film an aesthetic as well as an intellectual treat.

The vibrancy that We Are Many manages to enforce throughout its run time, keenly supplemented by Naomi Klein’s articulate narration, ensure an engaging and insightful journey. The audience is left considering the scope of change required to combat the climate crisis. It compels one to reflect on their individual contribution and the collective action that is necessary to bring about change.

This Changes Everything is a provocative film that manages to inspire rather than discourage. It presents not a prophecy of doom, but a call to action, an opportunity to reframe the climate crisis as an opportunity to transform our failed economic system into something much better. Its power lies in its ability to make the viewer rethink their perspectives on global warming and capitalism, engaging us in a vitally important conversation that extends well beyond the screen.

The deeply human and empathetic portrayal of its key characters, enthused with Naomi Klein’s painstaking research and articulate narration, makes This Changes Everything a truly compelling piece of filmmaking. Released amidst a multitude of environmental documentaries, it manages to stand out by boldly challenging the status quo and speaking the inconvenient truth about climate change and economic systems.