I have just had the pleasure to watch an advance screening organised by the Climate Action Network Australia, of the movie The Age of Stupid. So advanced in fact, that the world premier has not even taken place!
Here is the basic premise straight from my invitation;
"This is a chance for you to see the film George Monbiot picked as "the one thing we’ll be talking about in 2009", calling it "a captivating and constantly surprising film: the first successful dramatisation of climate change" (for more about the film go to: http://www.ageofstupid.net/)
‘The Age of Stupid’ features Pete Postlethwaite (Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects) as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking back at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
Directed by McLibel-filmmaker Franny Armstrong and produced by Oscar-winning John Battsek (One Day In September) ‘The Age of Stupid’ will be released in March 2009 across the UK, and then around the world, with the Australian launch planned for June / July. Alongside the movie, we will be launching the "Not Stupid" action campaign, which aims to turn 250 million viewers into virtual or physical activists, all focusing on Copenhagen."
I felt that the movie was harder hitting than An Inconvenient Truth and it left me asking myself, ‘why are we all so blind and stupid that we can’t see the events of climate change unfolding in front of us’. At first I felt depressed, then a big fist of anger and the urge to do something further than I am already doing hit me. I know that I am only one person, but together with others, we can begin to turn this emergency around before it is too late. The movie was well filmed, and the message sang out to me loud and clear. The only criticism I have is that there were no solutions presented at the end of the movie, and it left the viewer asking, "What can I do now?". My only fear is that the shock effect will be too strong. I suppose that is where the local Climate Action Groups or Transition Towns come into play. They are the groups where these people can turn to for getting at least some of their questions answered.
So, here is the trailer for the movie. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be jolted quickly into the reality of climate change, peak oil and consumerism.
I hope you get as much out of it as I did.
Looks as though its a good film – personally I didn’t think An Inconvenient Truth went far enough, but my fear, my over whelming fear which you touched on the other day, is that we, the ordinary people can do as much as we can, can make all the changes, cutbacks, recycling that we do, but whilst the money grabbing corporations and government ministers are so busy looking after them selves to the detriment of us and the world as a whole, we are never going to have the overall necessary global action which is needed. And it scares me half to death…..
Babs xx
This one loks like a “must see”, when is it due for release in Oz Gav ?
If that’s the trailer I can only imagine the impact the entire movie will have. But why do I get the feeling that it will be ignored by those who really need to see it.
There is no doubt about it, we are living in the age of stupid
I am *so* looking forward to seeing this. Have been hearing such good things from the advance screenings!
@ Babs. I agree, however the more pressure via activism we place on our elected officials the more they will listen to us. We need to become globally active like the suffragettes, the human rights movement, or the Vietnam War protests. Only activism on that scale will convince these our leaders that we want serious action now! Don’t ever give up hope.
@ Phil. I think it is slated for June. If I get my hands on a copy, I will have a home showing and invite you around.
@ Nevyn. Yes we are indeed living in the age of stupid.
@ JulieG. It is a very good movie, and well worth taking as many of your like-minded friends to see.
Gav