More Earth Day Flicks!
Happy Earth Day! A couple years ago, on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, I asked the following question on this blog: “What will you do to clean up our planet?” This is a question I feel is even more pressing now than when I first wrote it… (Check out the full ‘Happy Earth Day!’ post and additional viewing suggestions here!) It is a question I find I ask myself on an increasing basis. I use reusable shopping bags, I recycle as much as I can, and I have taken up gardening to do what little I feel I can to make our planet a better place and care for this ‘space rock’ we call home. Presently, I am in the midst of ‘spring cleaning’ and am absolutely appalled at the trash present on my street and blowing into my yard; it truly saddens me that so many people still litter and take for granted the fragile ecosystems we inhabit. My challenge to you all this year is to contemplate and watch, or rewatch, the list of films Bailey and I have compiled and truly think about what you can do to make our world a better place and what kind of positive impact those actions will have upon our environment. – Sarah
Family Nature Flicks
FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992, dir. Bill Kroyer)
Chances are if you were a child of the ‘90s you probably saw FernGully: The Last Rainforest well before Avatar (2009) was even an idea swirling around in director James Cameron’s head (I could go into all the similarities and plot points in Avatar that were ripped off of FernGully, but we’ll save that for a later post…). Between the superb voice cast, including Smantha Mathis, Jonathan Ward, Christian Slater, Tim Curry, and Robin Williams, and timeless environmental plea, FernGully is just as relevant now as it was when the film was released. If you want to spark conversations and curiosity in the younger generation about the dangers of deforestation, animal experimentation, and pollution, this film is a great catalyst for some pretty tough discussions. – Sarah 🦇
The Secret Garden (1993, dir. Agnieszka Holland)
I’ve only brought this movie to the table about a dozen times on this blog, but when I think of Earth and nature in film, I automatically think of The Secret Garden. Not only does the story center on the solemn orphan Mary’s (Kate Maberly) personal growth linked directly with her work in her late aunt’s garden, but the exquisitely-shot images of flowers growing and animals emerging in the springtime are enough to make anyone want to try their hand at making something grow. – Bailey 🌹
Environmental Sci-Fi
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986, dir. Leonard Nimoy)
Imagine a world without whales… Now, imagine a future in which humpback whales are extinct, but their calls are used to create a disruptive signal that disables the electrical grid and creates catastrophic consequences. This far-fetched backstory within the Star Trek canon is probably one of the most compelling stories and centers itself around an environmental plea. Sure, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) can time travel back in time to find some whales to aid in turning off the signal that is wreaking havoc upon the Starfleet crew’s present, but we are rather real humans do not have the luxury of relying upon science fiction to save our planet. We cannot simply turn back a clock or time travel to avoid the damage we have caused… A truly thought-provoking sci-fi film. – Sarah 🐋
WALL-E (2008, dir. Andrew Stanton)
This film is another pick that hits close to home, set in an uninhabitable Earth of the future that has been devastated by pollution and corporate greed. Humans exist in blissful ignorance in space, while robots remain to clean up the mess that humanity has wrought. Alongside the adorable romance between clean-up robot WALL-E and EVE (a scanning robot looking for signs of hope for humanity’s return) is a disturbing glimpse into Earth’s future if it continues down its current path. – Bailey 💕
Environment Legal Dramas
Erin Brockovich (2000, dir. Steven Soderbergh)
Based on the true story of a struggling single mom-turned environmental activist, Brockovich (Julia Roberts) goes above and beyond her position as a legal clerk to build a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company on behalf of the people of Hinkley, California, whose water had been polluted with a carcinogen by the company. The film is, unfortunately, as relevant as ever, with large corporations constantly putting the planet in peril. What is Earth Day if not a day to remember that we’re constantly climbing uphill against those with unlimited means? – Bailey 💼
Dark Waters (2019, dir. Todd Haynes)
How often do you turn on your tap, or drink a glass of water, without thinking about where your water comes from? After watching Dark Waters, directed by Todd Haynes, which is based upon the real-life court case against the chemical manufacturing company, Dupont, and their hand in contaminating an entire town with unregulated ‘forever chemicals,’ I cannot help but question the level of corporate greed that exists within our world. This film does a fine job of creating a realistic timeline for the events it depicts, and I have to commend the efforts of corporate defense lawyer Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) for taking a stand against the very industries and companies he was initially hired to defend. – Sarah 🐄
What do you think of these environmental-themed films? How many of them have you seen before? What do you strive to do to take care of our planet? Share your thoughts in the comments below and have a Happy Earth Day!
Copyright © 2022 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte Clark
