Hello Cool World Review: When I saw Force of Nature, I didn’t expect to learn so much about Sukuzi the scientist as well as ground-breaking mover and shaker. Or to be so entertained.
The ‘70s footage of Dr. Suzuki skateboarding down the halls of UBC is not to be missed.His long time collaboration with the Haida Nation is inspiring. The film really made me feel what a revolutionary figure in the Canadian landscape David Suzuki was, and still is. Packed full of information, and much more excitingly shot than the ‘legacy lecture’ part would have led me to believe, I think it is one of the most important films to come out this year…
The feature length documentary follows scientist, broadcaster and environmentalist David Suzuki as he approaches his 75th year. At the centre of the film is a stunningly staged and beautifully shot lecture — his legacy lecture — Delivered at Vancouver's University of British Columbia Chan Centre. He sums up a message of ecology and responsibility that speaks to the world, while delving into the specific struggles of Japanese Canadian immigrants, of scientists who have a conscience, of all environmentalists and media activists, and of his growing connection to First Nations culture.
The lecture is intercut with footage following Suzuki across Canada, and the world as he reminisces about his life - its triumphs, humiliations and joys. It also makes great use of fantastic archival footage of a Suzuki as young hippy professor at UBC.
This is a deeply political and deeply personal film and we learn about the affect on a young Suzuki of the trauma of internment and stigmatization that he and his family faced during World War II. As he speaks of his father's "resignation" in the face of injustice, one sees that it provided a powerful counter-example for Suzuki: he would go on to spend his life opposing submission. The film is an explanation of this struggle, a record of its success and a plea for its continuance.
REVIEWS OF THE FILM
"His speech begins, unfurling through the film into possibly the most convincing and fascinating argument yet heard on every person’s right to a clean Earth."
Hello Cool World is very excited to be working with eOne to encourage more groups to access this fine film while it is in theatres. It will not be out on DVD for at least a year, so see it now!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1) If you are a teacher, take your class to see this film.
2) Organize a group to see the film
3) Go to the film and take your friends
4) Spread the word, on Twitter, Facebook and by email
Katherine Dodds AKA "Kat" is the founder of Good Company Communications and HelloCoolWorld.com. Trained in renegade advertising & branding through her work with Adbusters in the '90s, Kat's early induction into the possibilities of the web-world was inspired by the term hypertext, which she immediately found comforting. She is dedicated to cause-related communication and to the development and use of tools that promote democratic processes.
Katherine Dodds AKA "Kat" is the founder of Good Company Communications and HelloCoolWorld.com. Trained in renegade advertising & branding through her work with Adbusters in the '90s, Kat's early induction into the possibilities of the web-world was inspired by the term hypertext, which she immediately found comforting. She is dedicated to cause-related communication and to the development and use of tools that promote democratic processes.
