“An Inconvenient Truth”, 2006
Director: Davis Guggenheim
This documentary follows former United States Vice President Al Gore on the lecture circuit, campaigning to raise public awareness of the dangers of global warming and calls for immediate action to curb its destructive effects on the environment.
Starring: Al Gore, Billy West, Ronald Reagan;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: documentary;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 96 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “An Inconvenient Truth” on the website imdb.com
“The Cove”, 2009
Director: Louie Psihoyos
An eye-opening documentary that follows a high-stakes undercover operation to expose the secret and grisly practice of dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan, highlighting the broader, often destructive, implications of human activity on marine life.
Starring: Rick O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones, Michael Illiff, Joji Morishita, Ian Campbell, Paul Watson, Doug DeMaster, Dave Rastovich, Charles Hambleton;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: documentary, crime, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,4;
More information about the film “The Cove” on the website imdb.com
“Chasing Ice”, 2012
Director: Jeff Orlowski-Yang
This film captures the efforts of photographer James Balog and his team who, through time-lapse cameras, record the alarming rate of melting glaciers in the Arctic, providing undeniable evidence of climate change.
Starring: James Balog, Svavar Jónatansson, Louie Psihoyos, Kitty Boone, Sylvia Earle Ph.D., Dennis Dimick, Adam LeWinter, Jason Box, Tad Pfeffer, Suzanne Balog;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: documentary, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 75 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Chasing Ice” on the website imdb.com
“Blackfish”, 2013
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Focusing on the story of Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld, this documentary critically examines the ethics and safety of keeping such intelligent creatures in captivity, while also touching upon broader themes of wildlife conservation.
Starring: Tilikum, John Hargrove, Samantha Berg, Mark Simmons, Kim Ashdown, Dean Gomersall, James Earl Jones, Shamu, Carol Ray, John Jett;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: documentary;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 83 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
“Before the Flood”, 2016
Director: Fisher Stevens
Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this documentary film explores the global impact of climate change and the actions individuals and society can take to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ban Gi-moon, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mike Brune, Marc Mageau, Enric Sala, Jake Awa, Jason Box, Philip Levine, Michael E. Mann;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: documentary, news;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 96 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Virunga”, 2014
Director: Orlando von Einsiedel
Set in the Virunga National Park in the Congo, this intense documentary film combines investigative journalism and nature documentary to tell the story of the park's rangers risking their lives to protect the endangered gorillas from poachers and fighting off encroachments from oil exploration.
Starring: André Bauma, Emmanuel de Merode, Mélanie Gouby, Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo, Vianney Kazarama, Julien Lechenault, Patrice Lumumba, Guyguy Mitamba, Josue Mukura, Pieter Wright;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: documentary, war;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Virunga” on the website imdb.com
“Our Planet”, 2019
Director: Adam Chapman, Hugh Pearson, Huw Cordey, Sophie Lanfear
Although a series, “Our Planet” qualifies for its cinematic quality and scope. It's a groundbreaking nature documentary series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, focusing on the planet's remaining wilderness areas and their animal inhabitants, highlighting the urgent need for conservation.
Starring: David Attenborough;
Production year: 2019;
Genre: documentary;
Rating: IMDB: 9,3;
More information about the film “Our Planet” on the website imdb.com
“The Ivory Game”, 2016
Director: Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani
This documentary exposes the dark world of ivory trafficking. Filmmakers go undercover to infiltrate and document the deep-rooted corruption behind poaching in Africa and the global trade threatening the existence of elephants.
Starring: Andrea Crosta, Ian Stevenson, Prince William of Wales;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: documentary;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Ivory Game” on the website imdb.com
“Racing Extinction”, 2015
Director: Louie Psihoyos
An environmental documentary that addresses not only the mass extinction of species but also offers solutions that can help mitigate the loss. Through covert operations and high-tech tactics, filmmakers uncover a world of endangered species and the efforts to save them.
Starring: Louie Psihoyos, Heather Dawn Rally, Christopher W. Clark, Kirk Johnson, Ady Gil, Shawn Heinrichs, Paul Hilton, Charles Hambleton, David Doubilet, Jerry Greenberg;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: documentary, news, adventure;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“A Plastic Ocean”, 2016
Director: Craig Leeson
The film investigates the devastating impacts that plastic has caused to our environment, especially marine life. Through beautiful but haunting visuals, it emphasizes the urgent need to address plastic pollution and suggests ways to reduce plastic waste.
Starring: David Attenborough, Sylvia Earle Ph.D., Ben Fogle, Craig Leeson, Jo Ruxton, Gary Stokes, Tanya Streeter, Ivan Varela;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: documentary;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “A Plastic Ocean” on the website imdb.com
These films, each in their own way, contribute to raising awareness about the significance of conservation and the role every individual can play in preserving our planet for future generations.
In sum, films about conservation serve as powerful vehicles for not just raising awareness, but also inspiring action toward safeguarding our planet's diverse ecosystems and majestic wildlife. Through a blend of heartfelt storytelling, stunning visual portrayals, and the often sobering revelation of the challenges confronting the environment, these films stir in viewers a renewed appreciation for the natural world and a conscientious urgency to participate in its preservation. By intertwining entertainment with educational content, they bridge the gap between passive observation and active involvement, encouraging audiences to consider their environmental impact and to advocate for policies and practices that protect our shared home. As we continue to confront pressing ecological crises, the role of conservation-focused cinema in fostering a more informed and engaged global citizenry remains indispensable, nudging humanity towards a more sustainable coexistence with the rest of the Earth's inhabitants.
