Hello and welcome back to Leeds RAG! This week we have something super exciting for you.. a new writer, Niamh Heron, gives us the low down on the best sustainable documentaries to watch. We love encouraging different writers to share their creative voices on our platform; we hope that you will enjoy some new voices this semester... so watch this space!
We live in unprecedented times, the COVID-19 pandemic has, perhaps, simply gone to emphasise the insurmountable power of nature, and how it can throw upheaval upon the entire population. These five documentaries, kaleidoscopic in their approach, have taken to exploring one of the most pertinent global issues of our times: sustainability. From human rights and health, to environmental damage and eco-living, they are almost synonymous in their message: we have much to do, and little time left. Whether you’re in the mood for a tear jerker or a more light hearted watch, here’s a round up that I can recommend:
I am Greta (2020) Watch on: Hulu
Deftly composed, this documentary offers an inspiring and thought provoking tale told through the eyes and words of Greta Thunberg herself: about her struggle to be heard as a woman with a poignant message, and her astounding accomplishments in helming the way for urgent action to be made in the interest of saving our planet from human destruction. It is both charming and unapologetic and perhaps my favourite on the list… The innermost message is brimming with hope for the future: a must-watch that makes for goosebump inducing viewing.
Rotten (2018) Watch on: Netflix
This short series on Netflix takes on six unassuming topics of concern regarding sustainability. Throughout, the provoking thought is that everything may not be exactly as it seems - who would have thought that an innocent, Insta-worthy smashed avocado brunch could be fuel for an industry rife with crime and violence? Other episodes take on the threat of non-biodegradable plastics to vital ecosystems; and the dark side to the legal and lucrative cannabis industry. There are two, six-part series to dig your teeth into, so get comfy and be prepared to hear some harsh truths.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020) Watch on: Netflix / BBC IPlayer
Through this visually striking and suspenseful cinematic masterpiece, Sir David Attenborough offers us a tear-jerking wake up call. This is no ‘Blue Planet’, no ‘The Penguin King’, it is not ‘An Attenborough’ as we readily know it. Made up from an amalgamation of images from times gone by; of ecosystems destroyed and of those that yet persevere in the face of human destruction, it creates a painterly picture that is both harrowing and hopeful. The entire film is interwoven with nods to Attenborough’s earlier career, reframing it to illustrate the ongoing climate catastrophe which he has witnessed and documented first hand. This one is a vital watch. Of anyone we should be listening to right now, it is Sir David Attenborough - he knows.
The True Cost (2015) Watch on: Amazon Prime
A film dedicated to peeling back the glamorous and aspirational appearances of the fashion industry to uncover the inbuilt structures upon which it stands: widespread and incessant oppression; a chilling reminder of the haunting deaths of thousands at the Rana Plaza garment making factory; the relentless poisoning of our planet; most of all, the people who are at the beckoning hands of this grossly unjust industry. The reality of the fashion industry in all of its unfair, damaging glory - please, if you wear (and thus, purchase) clothes, give this one a watch.
Down To Earth (2020) Watch on: Netflix
Zac Efron takes us with him on his journey to discover how communities, from Iceland to Puerto Rico, are employing eco-friendly lifestyles that are in tune with the Earth over the course of 8 episodes. A good starting point if you are on the hunt for an easy watch, or if you are new to learning about sustainability - Netflix seem to have struck a healthy balance between light-hearted entertainment factor and genuinely enlightening the viewer on the dire environmental issues that we face. To put it bluntly, on the surface, this series is, in essence, the product of a celebrity and his (undoubtedly very luxurious) adventures as he jets around the globe: he learns, he reads the script, and we receive an insightful and curiosity-inspiring watch - it is no David Attenborough, yet is equally harmless - as unassuming as it may seem, I think we can all learn something from this documentary.
We hope you enjoyed this overview of our favourite documentaries surrounding sustainability and a big thank to Niamh Heron and her insights!
Love,
LRFS x
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