There are plenty of excellent environmental films out there, from gritty documentaries to animated features appropriate for a younger audience. Here are a few suggestions, as well as ideas about discussions your class could have after the film. We’ve divided up our movie suggestions into elementary and secondary, recognizing that some movies will be suitable for all levels, depending on student interest. Be sure to visit your local library or cinema if you’re looking for more ideas!
For elementary schools: fun films that use clever storytelling to explore major environmental issues.
- Switch (2012): How can we make the big switch from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power? Get answers in this scientifically based exploration of the energy transition from the traditional energies of coal and oil to future energies, including biofuels, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, and wind power. Bonus: your class could check out the Switch Energy Project website for further research.
- The Lorax (2012): We couldn’t leave out this Dr. Seuss classic! Loosely adapted from the beloved children’s book, this movie brings to life a cautionary tale: the dire consequences of going too far in deriving profit from the earth without considering resource management and the inherent value of our natural environments.
- Trashed (2012): This short documentary examines what happens to our waste once we toss it. We love the tagline: “If you think waste is someone else’s problem…think again”. It’s a thought-provoking look at the drawbacks of our convenience-obsessed society, and can tie in nicely to your school’s Waste Minimization campaign.
- No Impact Man (2009): This inspiring movie is the true story of Colin Beaven and his family, who decide to take the plunge and attempt to live as close to zero-waste and zero-impact as possible. It could spark some great discussion about what modern conveniences we could do without (or with less of).
- Tapped (2009): This film delves into one of the largest sources of waste that’s clogging up our oceans and waterways – plastic water bottles. It reveals some surprising facts about the bottled water industry, and would be great to watch and discuss as part of a bottled-water-free campaign.
- WALL-E (2008): A Disney Pixar classic with a strong message about conservation, WALL-E uses striking animated imagery to demonstrate what might happen if we continue on our path of rampant consumerism and environmental destruction. It also connects the human toll on the planet to corporate interests – a good lead-in to discussing awareness of advertising and media messaging.
- Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992): This is an oldie from the early 1990s, but it covers themes that are still relevant today, like the challenges of balancing economic and environmental interests when it comes to precious resources like our rainforests.
For secondary schools: films and documentaries that go deeper into environmental concerns and often incorporate social justice issues.
- Monumental: David Brower’s Fight for Wild America (2015) is the incredible story of outdoorsman, filmmaker and environmental crusader David Brower, who fought to recognize and preserve America’s wild landscapes, including the Grand Canyon. He is an important figure in the modern environmental movement, and learning about his life’s work could spark discussions on leadership in environmental campaigns in your school and beyond.
- Lost Rivers (2012): Good for an older audience – this film follows urban explorers who are uncovering lost rivers in London, Brescia (Italy), Montreal and Toronto. This could be a good film for students interested in urban development and lead well into a classroom exploration of what hidden natural features might lie beneath their city or neighbourhood.
- Waste Land (2010): Another documentary feature chronicling life as a waste-picker around the world’s largest landfill, Jardim Gramacho, outside Rio de Janeiro, and the surprising possibilities that lie in generating value from waste – including in the high-brow art galleries of London!
- Who Killed the Electric Car (2009): This is an interesting study of the rise and fall of the battery electric vehicle industry in America; it goes into the complex machinery underlying the automotive industry, including manufacturers, the oil industry, government bodies, and consumers. It could spark discussion on alternative transportation, especially at the high school level where students have the option to drive.
- The Garden (2008): adds an important social justice dimension to discussions about environmental activism. This Oscar-nominated documentary centres on a community’s struggle to preserve South Central Farm, a thriving 14-acre community garden (the largest in the US at its heyday in 2004) in the area of Los Angeles in which the Rodney King riots took place in 1992.
- The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (2006): looks at how communities can rally together in the face of adversity. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba lost over half of its oil imports as well as 80% of its food imports. Find out how Cubans pooled their resources and came up with innovative solutions to keep going in the face of a complete shift in energy sources. This is a very relevant film in today’s discussions about decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels and oil imports.
- Go Further (2003) is a humorous documentary tracing the escapades of a merry band of environmentalists, including Woody Harrelson, as they travel from Seattle, WA, to Los Angeles, CA, visiting universities and environmentally important sites, to spread a message of hope and change. This is a neat example of taking action on climate change from the individual and political perspective, and could lead to brainstorming on how to communicate environmental messages to different audiences.
The Planet in Focus environmental film festival is this week in Toronto (October 21-25). In addition to a full roster of enviro films, the festival will celebrate International and Canadian Eco Heros Vandana Shiva and Amy Millan. If you’d like to book a screening of past Planet in Focus movies for your school, send an e-mail to schools@planetinfocus.org.
If you know of any eco-film fests that we’ve missed, please e-mail Sarah at sbradley @ ontarioecoschools.org and we’ll add them to our list.
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