FILM: Home

The popular coffee table book The Earth from Above by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand has been made into a stunning film to highlight the damage man is doing to the planet. Called HOME, the film shows images of cities, rain forests, deserts and oceans from above to highlight the damage climate change, development and over exploitation is doing to the planet. With no talking heads. the narrative quickly draws the viewer in to see the story of life on the planet, our role in shaping it and calls to us to work together to write the script of what happens next.

The film was produced by Luc Besson who made the Hollywood blockbuster the Fifth Element and was shot in 54 countries over 217 days. The commentary, narrated by Glenn Close in English and was edited by Al Gore and famed environmentalist Lester Brown.

Yann said it was time to call a halt to a world where 20 percent of the population consumed 80 percent of the planet's riches. "I explain what is happening, I don't offer solutions," he said. "But we all have solutions within ourselves. We would live better by consuming less and sharing more, and we need more courageous policies. The idea is to convince people to push politicians to action."

Yann says "What our planet will be like in some 20-30 years is absolutely unknown. If humanity doesn’t stop its destructive influence on nature, we will soon find ourselves in a different alien world, inadequate for life. “It’s too late to be a pessimist”.

Instead of emphasising why we didn't we react when we could see what was coming, Arthus-Bertrand said that "there is a more optimistic version: They were great. They knew what would happen and they were brave enough to change things. That's the version I prefer. How did they do it?"

Asked what he wanted audiences to take away with them Arthus-Bertrand said that "Besides changing their way of life, I’d like people to want to help, to share. There’s a magnificent quote from Théodore Monod: “We’ve tried everything, except love”. I hope this movie will be synonymous with a lot of love."

The film ends with a simple appeal - "we must work together".


Yann Arthus-Bertrand talking about his work and the film at TED
http://www.ted.com/talks/yann_arthus_bertrand_captures_fragile_earth_in_wide_angle.html