Introduction
As the planet warms up due to global warming, discussions on climate change grow hotter by the minute. International summits, conferences, global policies, national pledges, corporations, scientists, activists, artists, and many others open out numerous dialogues & concerns revolving around the present environmental concerns. In this landscape, films contribute greatly to the cultural and social understanding of the crisis. The visual exploration of ideas, scenarios, stories, and imaginary futures adds depth and nuances to the topic of climate change. They can be a powerful medium to trigger conversations on topics, spread messages, play out situations and raise global awareness of the issue. Here are 10 scenarios from movies that deal with nature, the environment, and the climate crisis.
10. 2012
2012 is a movie that does not pull back its punches when showing the violently brutal and impersonal side of nature. Not so meek and mellow is nature – not pastoral or gentle, something to be conquered by human industry. No, 2012 shows Nature play a no-holds-barred against humanity, attacking it relentlessly with its earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and global flooding. It’s a fierce and unconquerable force unleashing its fury upon humanity and destroying it to the core.
While it is not strictly based on human-induced climate disasters, 2012 does explore various nuanced angles, like the government using the military to cover up nature & biodiversity loss and keep the public in the dark. The rich and the high-class citizens have an option to buy their way out of the calamity, while the poor are left to resist, adapt, and rot. 2012 is a visual depiction of environmental disasters taken to their extremes to show how Earth can become inhospitable for the whole of humanity.
9. The Day The Earth Stood Still
Blinded by greed, when human beings continue exploiting Earth’s natural resources, they push the planet to the brink of no return. Ultimately, an intervention from aliens forces humanity to confront their reality and reflect on their ways of being. Unfortunately, there might be no way back for humanity, for the ecologically aware – technologically superior alien species deem human beings too destructive for the planet, and may wipe them out completely.
The Day The Earth Stood Still, released in 2008, is a remake of the 1951 movie of the same name, which is itself adapted from the short story – ‘Farewell to the Master’. It employs the common sci-fi trope to reflect on broad social themes through the lens of an outsider.
In this case, an alien acts as the mouthpiece for critical reflection on the global human condition and behaviour. As human beings pursue their aggressive capitalistic approach of expansion and material possession, they end up destroying the planet and all its ecosystems. The characters and portrayal of the alien species as technologically superior and eco-conscious entities suggest the idea that perhaps there can be no development without nature. The aliens are superior not because they have cooler technology but simply because they understand the relevance of nature in life.
8. Ferngully: The Last Rainforest
Set in exotic rainforests in Australia, Frengully: The Last Rainforest explores the conflict between humans, nature, and wildlife. Continuous human expansion results in wide-scale deforestation destroying ecological habitat which leads to species extinction. As the magical fairy characters grapple with the reality of human-nature conflict, they seek ways for humans to co-exist with nature and wildlife.
The film explores important themes through the magic and fantasy genre, reflecting on the impact of anthropocentric attitudes on nature and life in general. Set in the magical rainforest, the film’s flashy and vibrant characters are suitable for children and young adult viewers. However, the underlying concern for the environment and nature invites reflection and deeper understanding from all.
7. Soylent Green
Released in the 1970s, Soylent Green presents a future world of 2022, where global warming, overpopulation, and pollution have triggered an ecocide. Planet Earth is dying – losing all its resources, and human civilizations are pushed to the brink of annihilation. People are at each other’s throats for there is a food & water shortage coupled with a lack of housing and general chaos.
On top of this, the evil corporation Soylent bags all the resources, creating a strong rich-poor divide and continues to manipulate the public by controlling resources.
In such a setting, a murder sets some detectives off to discover even more horrible secrets about evil corporations and inevitable destruction of the world.
The imagined dystopian future of the 21st century openly critiques the corporate manipulation & expansion in pushing the world to the brink of collapse. Food & Water crisis along with other conflicts in the fictional narrative also highlight the far reaching consequence of enviornmental disaster.
The film aptly portrays that miseries created by climate change won’t just be limited to ecological destruction, but will shake the very foundation of human civilization. What’s scary about Soylent Green that the chaotic dystopian future of 2022 might as well prove to be real, if climate change goals are not met on global level.
6. Avatar
A billion-dollar blockbuster franchise by James Cameroon, Avatar is a fantastical exploration of lush alien landscapes that face threats of ultimate annihilation thanks to human intervention and expansion. Avatar is a visually stunning representation of an ecologically rich landscape. But at its backdrop lies the all too familiar and typical trope of environmental degradation triggered by aggressive human development and expansion.
Having destroyed and plundered their own planet, human beings are out to mine the moon Pandora in their quest to control and obtain all the resources of nature. In the process, they end up brutally wiping out an entire ecosystem, killing species to the point of extinction, and disturbing the natural rhythm of a living planet.
Avatar is an interesting take on the human-nature conflict and beautifully represents the interconnectedness & sanctity of nature and environment. Even though the fictional narrative explores the theme of brutal colonial expansion and wipeout in fantastical settings, the possibility of its reality hits all too close to home.
5. 2040
Probably the only movie on the list which focuses more on solutions, hope, innovation, and the human spirit to tackle a worldwide crisis. 2040 is a visionary imagination of what the future will look like when climate change is solved.
Based on facts and hopeful visions, the movie explores various practical solutions like renewable energy, climate technology, modern policies and global harmony in tackling climate change. It is a positive approach to view the crisis not as a threat, but as a scope for change – A change on global and individual levels. 2040 is a narrative of hope highlighting various solutions that can help stop climate change.
4. Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke comes from the creative mind of the visionary film director – Hayao Miyazaki. It is an exploration of the eternal nature-culture divide in a magical setting of the fantasy genre.
The story focuses particularly on the conflict between nature and human industrialisation. The protagonist finds himself in the midst of a war between the Gods & spirits of nature, and human beings who destroy the natural habitat to mine for resources. It suggests reflection on the human potential for relentless destruction, overproduction, and weaponization of products.
Princess Mononoke is an engaging fantastical narrative of the protagonist achieving the balance between natural life and human development. It is a gentle reminder of human destruction brought upon natural landscapes.
3. Kadvi Hawa
Kadvi Hawa by director Nila Panda features an organic & poignant depiction of a dry & destitute land in Mahua made barren by drought and lack of rain. Through its haunting and well-performed characters, the movie dramatizes the nuanced consequences triggered by climate change such as displacement, disruption, emergency, communication breakdown, crop failure, economic loss, farmer suicide, and loss of life. Not glaringly obvious or alarmingly loud, it paints a subtle message about the far-reaching consequence of climate change as it begins to pervade every single aspect of life. Kadvi Hawa is a must-watch to understand how our climate, weather, and natural surroundings impact our lives in every way possible.
2. The Lord the Rings
Set in the mythical fantastical realm of Middle-Earth, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings is an exhaustive exploration and influence of Evil in human life. Spanning a wide timeline of 3 ages, the epic fantasy narrative explores many aspects of evil, one among which is the blatant disregard and destruction of the environment in the battle between good and evil. In one scene, when asked about which side the speaking tree is on, the wise character responds – ‘I’m on no one’s side because nobody is on my side.’
Lord of the Rings opens out the typical binary conflict between human industrialisation and the tactical removal of nature for resource mining and possession. One of the evil characters is forging the Machinery of War and must destroy all the trees to fuel the furnaces and forge the iron blades to prepare for battles and destruction. Amidst wars, battles and politics of the world, The Lord of the Rings subtly highlights the environmental destruction and degradation as human beings (and other species) continue their struggle for survival.
1. Interstellar
Interstellar is one of the most famous epic sci-fi narratives from Christopher Nolan – a glorious audio-visual experience with climate change as the underlying basis for the plot. The story rests upon a fundamental environmental and climate problem as humanity faces extinction thanks to blights, dust storms, and other sever climate disaster.
Through the setting, film explores the unavoidable impact of climate change on human life and how it alters every single aspect of the life. It highlights climate change not just in terms of environmental disaster but also shows the far reaching implications. Farmers are more needed than engineers, and scientists simply because the world has no food. The film subtly shows various climate change induced problems like displacement, migration, dislocation, economic loss, altered lifestyle, and prolonged global crisis as all scientific communities launch desperate measures to save human civilization from mass extinction.
Conclusion
Climate Change is a contemporary 21st-century problem with numerous facets, angles, areas, and implications. It is an ongoing crisis demanding complete involvement from everybody to understand, mitigate, and solve it. Films enable aesthetic articulation of the crisis, helping to raise awareness, visually depict situations, and send messages of hope through art and creativity. The list is not exhaustive as many other films explore the nuances of climate change in different ways. If you feel like some movies are missing from the list, do mention their names on the forum.
