Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Skip to main content

Sustainable Cinema

By November 3, 2022January 9th, 2023Design Tips

Sustainable Cinema:

A Historical Timeline of the Best Environmental Movies and Documentaries

Media that sheds light on environmental issues has the ability and potential to dramatize the reality of the ecological challenges facing our planet.

When done well, these movies and documentaries can empower audiences to take active roles in the monumental changes needed to address our various environmental crises.

Often, this serves as the underlying purpose of such media.

By utilizing these art forms in entertaining ways, creators hope to educate and inform the audience emotively.

Ultimately, environmental films aim to inspire viewers to participate more actively in the environmental movement.

You may think that this is a recent phenomenon.

You may guess that environmental films have become more prevalent with the rise of airtime and column space given to climate-related issues in the 21st century.

While it’s true that more people are more cognisant of the myriad environmental issues facing our planet nowadays, it’s also true that environmental film has a long history that can be traced back to the 1930s.

Let’s explore the history of sustainable cinema.

The 1930s

The Beginning of Environmental Filmmaking

documentary-film
the-river
pare-lorentz

Pare Lorentz

Any discussion concerning environmental movies needs to begin with Pare Lorentz.

Lorentz released two films consecutively in the mid-1930s that cast a light on the history of poor land management in the US. Through his films, Lorez sought to vilify the capitalistic, greedy policies that led to widespread catastrophe in the American South.

The Plow That Broke The Plains

broke-the-plains

1936

The first of his two feature films, The Plow That Broke The Plains (1936), tells the social and economic history of the Great Plains. It outlines how the prairies were initially settled. It then moves on to the highs of the WWI boom before the terrible lows of the drought and depression of the early 1930s.

In the later parts of the movie, Lorentz outlines his view that specific policies associated with greed and industrialization were firmly to blame for the hardship in the prairies, as overfarming led to catastrophe for those who lived on the plains.

The River

the-river-1937

1937

A year later, Lorentz released The River (1937). Taking a similar tone, the movie outlines the catastrophic Mississippi River floods caused by the actions of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Both movies were produced by the U.S Film Service and were intended to encourage support for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (FDR) New Deal. The notion posited was that FDR’s New Deal benefited the American people because it would treat American soil better, reversing various policies that were causing harm to the land.

This framing set a precedent for future movies about sustainability. Lorentz put on film the idea that how we treat the land is a political issue and, therefore, up for discussion.

His provocative juxtaposition of captivating visuals highlighting stunning natural beauty next to scenes of devastation made for a persuasive, compelling argument.

Combining a serious, entertaining, creative art form with an environmental message paved the way for the future genre.

He also set a precedent for coming decades by commenting on a contemporary issue. Environmental movies in the 60s, 70s and 80s focused on relevant, contemporary political themes.

The 1960s

The Beginning of the Modern Environmental Movement

red-woods
jungle
slient-spring

The modern environmental movement 1962

The modern environmental movement was established by Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962.

During what may be the most progressive period for environmental legislation in American history, environmental activists from all over the world turned to Rachel Carson’s frank writing for leadership.

rachel-carson

The book was an eloquent warning of the dangers of pesticide use and ignited a passionate national debate, leading to President Kennedy launching an investigation into the public health effects of pesticides.

The book led to a flurry of environmental films focused on conversation and endangered species protection.

The Redwoods

redwoods-1967

1967

One such film was The Redwoods (1967). The documentary short was produced for the Sierra Club. The film formed part of their strident campaign for a national park to protect the redwood forest deemed under threat from various sources.

Books like Silver Spring and films like The Redwoods were indicative of a growing awareness of the need to protect the environment around us from various threats, and that media could be a valuable tool for raising awareness of dangers to the environment.

The 1970s

A Focus on Pollution and Toxic Chemicals

minamata
soylent-green

In another case of a native filmmaker being influenced by local catastrophes, the early 1970s saw Japanese director Noriaki Tsuchimoto make a series of movies about mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan.

Minamata: The Victims and Their World

This documentary masterpiece tells the harrowing tale of how a fertilizer company dumped mercury-filled wastewater into the sea for decades.

The polluted seawater severely affected the health of local people. This film emotively shared the locals’ plight and brought news of the environmental disaster to the attention of viewers worldwide. A global movement of solidarity sprung up in response.

minamata-victims

Soylent Green

soylent-green-1973

1973

Going in a slightly different cinematic direction, Soylent Green (1973) is an ecological dystopian thriller set in the distant future of 2022! The movie paints the picture of a future world best by climate catastrophe as various toxic chemicals have caused dying oceans, food shortages, and the general depletion of resources.

The film is far-fetched but based on some factual understanding of the potential dangers of various chemicals. The main plot focuses on Charlton Heston as the innocent cop who stumbles upon the truth about the power-hungry big corporation – the central drive of the movie with environmental issues as the backdrop.

The 1980s

Dealing with Nuclear Crisis

love-this-planet
planted-tress

The 1980s saw the peak of cold war fear, with the world’s polarized superpowers upping the ante with nuclear rhetoric.

Rhetoric spilt into reality with the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, leading to the creation of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

The threat of nuclear disaster seemed very real to millions worldwide, and filmmaking reflected that concern. Many movies in the 80s featured the threat of nuclear war or crisis as an underlying backdrop to the plot, and many films also focused on celebrating nature as a way of highlighting what was at stake in the nuclear posturing.

If You Love This Planet

planet-1982

1982

Terre Nash’s short documentary film, If You Love This Planet (1982), records a lecture given to SUNY Plattsburgh students by the physician Dr Helen Caldicott.

Caldicott was an outspoken anti-nuclear activist. The film delves deep into the potential scientific and medical consequences of nuclear warfare in easy-to-grasp, plain language.

The film juxtaposes Caldicott’s clear speaking with footage from Jap Zero, a 1943 military educational video featuring footage of atomic bombs. Caldicott remains hopeful, advising the students to organize politically and hold the authorities accountable.

There is a clear line to be drawn from Lorentz’s films of the 30s to this documentary that actively looks to incite viewers to take action and influence policymakers.

The Man Who Planted Trees

planted-tress-1987

1987

Another film of the 1980s, The Man Who Planted Trees (1987), is a movie about sustainability that takes a more nuanced approach. The animated short is an adaptation of a 1953 children’s book and tells the story of a lonely shepherd’s allegorical quest to reforest a valley.

He single-handedly restores the desolate valley of Provence over numerous decades as the acorns he plants survive the World Wars. The book and subsequent film are monuments to the resilience of nature, serving as a timely reminder in a decade when it felt to some like nature was under threat of nuclear war.

The 1990s

Green wave of Eco Animations

forest
mononoke

The 1990s saw a wave of animation films that reflected the messages of the environmental movement. This was an unprecedented surge in animation that featured environmental narratives that laid the groundwork for later classics like Wall-E and Moana.

As the population rose, so did deforestation and carbon emissions. Ecological disasters seemed to become more frequent. The fate of our planet began to loom large in the public consciousness, and, as ever, the cultural zeitgeist reflected this environmental angst.

It is particularly apt that cartoons became a popular tool for the environmental movement as educating young children about the need to protect the earth’s resources became a top priority.

fern-gully

FernGully

1992

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992) is a tale of fairies and their attempts to stop lumberjacks from cutting down FernGully – their forest dwelling. A curious fairy accidentally miniaturized one of the humans who is enchanted by the majestic world of the rainforest. Together, they must work to prevent all sorts of threats to FernGully, including the evil spirit Hexxus whe seeks its destruction.

The film was shown in the general assembly hall of the United Nations on Earth Day and was seen as a call-to-action to prevent the overlogging of rainforests worldwide. Though, within the film, the evil spirit Hexxus is the true villain as the humans ultimately form the solution.

fern-gully-cartoon
cartoon

Once Upon a Forest

1993

A film with similar themes, Once Upon a Forest (1993) sees a cute, plucky badger orphaned by an overturned tanker that leaks poisonous gas into her forest home of Dapplewood.

This feature-length musical from Hanna Barbera casts the animal world against the human as the badger, and her friends must brave human dangers to source the medicine that will heal the forest and animals.

Both these films reflect the growing awareness of the need to protect woodland and run alongside the growing presence of the environmental movement. Greenpeace activism was more prevalent and visible, with proceeds from FernGully going to the organization.

forest-time
princess

Princess Mononoke

1997

One further film worth mentioning in the 90s is Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke (1997) with its beguiling animation. This fascinating film details a struggle between the animals and nature gods of the woods and the human residents of the village of Tataraba.

What is interesting about the film is its intriguing moral ambiguity. It is far from a simplistic story of man corrupting nature. Instead, it focuses on the pointlessness of the struggle between man and nature, suggesting that compromise is the key for both sides to live in peace and harmony.

princess-cartoon

The 2000s to Now

Documentaries About Sustainability

inconvinent-truth
flood

As we progress through film history into the 21st century, sustainability has become an evermore present theme in popular culture.

David Attenborough

With the rise of streaming services, there is obviously now more choice available to viewers. The popularity of nature documentaries voiced by the likes of David Attenborough and, more recently, Barack Obama, are helping environmental issues meet a broader audience.

As our knowledge of climate change, too, has increased, many documentary filmmakers have sought to use the persuasive medium to help people realize the stakes for our people and our planet. They seek to educate and inform, always with that underlying hope of inciting further participation in environmental movements.

An Inconvenient Truth

inconvinent-truth-2006

2006

An Inconvenient Truth (2006) was one such documentary. The film documents Al Gore’s attempt to educate the world on global warming issues during his lecture series.

It certainly worked as a conversation starter, even if not everybody agreed with the claims made in the movie. It reignited global interest in the concept of climate change.

The film was released with the express wish that people would act to curtail the destructive effects of global warming on the environment.

Black Wave: The Legacy of Exxon Valdez

black-wave-2008

2008

Black Wave: The Legacy of Exxon Valdez (2008) is another documentary that tackles a different environmental issue, but is related to global warming through its subject matter.

Exxon Mobil is one of the world’s largest oil companies. The documentary outlines the ongoing legal battle between the oil behemoth and Alaskan residents fighting for compensation for the ‘black wave’ of 1989. The black wave refers to the oil leaked from the supertanker “Valdez” that ran aground and caused an environmental catastrophe, with harrowing images of dead seabirds and otters covered in black, sticky oil.

That’s not to mention the long-term damage to the livelihoods of locals. The film is an inspiring yet frustrating look at how the vulnerable fight for justice while the powerful avoid responsibility.

The Island President

2011

Reverting back to climate change outright, The Island President (2011) follows the story of Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives. The Maldives face a precarious future as the low-lying islands are at risk due to rising sea levels.

The film skillfully tracks Nasheed’s trials and tribulations as he tries to raise global awareness of his islands’ plight and advocate for his people.

island-president

This Changes Everything

changes-everything-2015

2015

As it becomes clear that the Maldives isn’t the only place in the world facing the devastating effects of climate change, This Changes Everything (2015) sheds light on the issues faced by seven communities worldwide.

Inspired by the book of the same name, the film highlights the myriad ways in which the changing climate is harming our habitats and way of life.

For some of these communities, their livelihoods and very existence are under threat.

Yet, the tone of the movie is not one of fear-mongering. Instead, taking its cue from earlier movies of the environmental movement, the message is one of the possibilities if we take radical action.

Before The Flood

2016

Before the Flood (2016) follows outspoken climate change activist Leonardo Di Caprio on his journey as United Nations Messenger of Peace. Di Caprio meets with scientists, high-profile activists, and world leaders to discuss the dangers of climate change as well as possible solutions.

Before the Flood is a film in two halves with a depressing summary of the challenges we face, followed by the choices we can make that can help to alleviate some issues. It is an endearing film that is eloquent in its execution without hitting the transformative note it aims for.

flood

The 2000s to Now

Movies About Sustainability

wall-e
flint

Documentaries often have a clear purpose of educating and informing first, entertaining second. This means films like An Inconvenient Truth and Before The Flood are packed with actionable insights and lessons about sustainability and environmental issues more generally.

Yet, sometimes the power of movies can be utilized in better ways.

A more subtle message through a powerful, compelling narrative can do more for the environmental movement than a clear-cut analysis of the challenges and potential solutions to climate change.

Those can often be too overt. Let’s examine some movies since 2000 that speak to environmental issues through various narratives.

Is humor an underutilized weapon? Are gritty dramas better at emotively portraying the stakes of environmental issues? Or are the cold hard facts of documentary filmmaking the best way to encourage active participation in environmental struggles?

Conclusion

changes-black
promised-land-black

These are a selected handful of the best environmental documentaries and movies that track the trajectory of media concerning environmental issues.

As we reflect on the subject matter, it’s intriguing to see that movies about environmental issues so often hold up a mirror to what is going on in society at large.

From the early 30s films of Lorentz to Adam McKay’s treatment of climate change deniers in Don’t Look Up, so much of the artform is a reflection of contemporary issues.

There are other elements to notice over time. There has always been a balancing act between sharing the facts and providing hope. Creators have always had to tread the line between shedding light on the challenges we face, sometimes by detailing terrible catastrophes, and hinting at ways to improve. Filmmakers have to present the stark, despairing realities while also offering solutions – otherwise there is no hope.

What can be under no doubt is the endearing quality of filmmaking to capture an audience regardless of subject matter. Films and documentaries are undoubtedly effective tools that will continue to be used by green movements to spread awareness of environmental issues.

More than just spreading awareness, the art form has the potential, as we have continuously highlighted, to emotionally engage an audience to take action. Captivating dramas serve as thought-provoking debate topics, child-friendly animations form the base of class time discussions, and documentaries with a direct message can encourage a viewer to look up their local green organizations or petitions to make their feelings known.

Here’s to a continuation of sustainable cinemamand the role it plays in elevating environmental issues.