OVERHEATED THE DOCUMENTARY: A film for a critically overheating planet was released on YouTube on June 14 2022. Directed by Yassa Khan, featuring Billie Eilish as an executive producer, this documentary highlights the urgency with which we should be taking climate action, making it clear that climate change is not a distant threat, but a present crisis which demands immediate solutions.
This film presents commentary from Indigenous leaders, music artists, and climate activists including (in order of appearance): Billie Eilish, Tori Tsui, Ibeyi, Vanessa Nakate, Yungblud, Girl in Red, Vivienne Westwood, Samata Pattinson, Emily Eavis, Maggie Baird, Sofia Jannok, Danielle Ingabire, Enqueri Ehueunguime, & Finneas.
The film opens beautifully, with commentary from Sofia Jannok – protector of the Sámi people – and Enqueri Ehueunguime – Chief of the Waorani people – on our finite lifespans, situating us in our present reality:
“How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood? (…) Perhaps four or five times more, perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless.”
These words make us as viewers consider our lives and our existential condition, before immediately being confronted by news clips and audio which details the climate crisis and how it poses a threat to us as humans. This contrast is uncomfortable, yet it is very much needed to mobilize individuals for change.
Climate Anxiety
After the introduction, the documentary highlights a number of individuals who speak on their personal experiences living during the climate crisis. Billie Eilish, Tori Tsui, and Ibeyi discuss climate anxiety. This overwhelming fear of the future can stem from personal, first-hand experiences, or from hearing about climate news from various sources. Eilish talks about how it gets overwhelming and wonders if we’re doing enough.
Tori Tsui, climate activist, on climate anxiety:
“It is a very uniquely personal experience. And to me, largely climate anxiety is something that bleeds into other aspects of my mental health.”
“It can be quite a bewildering experience to think that you’re anxious about the future, but now the future is happening.”
Ibeyi, musical duo, on climate anxiety:
“I started thinking about it when there were more and more cyclones in Cuba. People started saying the level of the sea would come up. Our house in Cuba is in front of the sea, so the possibility of losing your home came through.”
Sustainability in Music
Emily Eavis, co-organizer of Glastonbury Festival, talks about the impact of the festival banning plastic bottles in 2019. Previously, the festival had gone through 1.6 million plastic bottles during a weekend. Eavis explains that it was a challenge to get all the drink companies on board and that there was a lot of resistance, “but [they] got there and it was the most remarkable thing”.
Yungblud and Girl in Red both touch upon how their touring affects the climate and how they are trying to make changes to do better. They are both aware of their environmental impact from touring and Yungblud notes how he can’t help but feel a sense of guilt about it. He stresses the importance of a lot of people taking small actions versus a few people taking big actions. Some of the changes Yungblud has implemented include offsetting all flights from his tours, not having catering serve meat all the time, and wearing re-purposed fashion. Girl in Red mentions she is making her tours “carbon positive”.
Girl in Red also discusses that we should be amplifying Indigenous voices and knowledge:
“We hear about the destruction happening in the world but not about the people living in these places. (…) Indigenous people have always been suppressed and we don’t talk about their knowledge and wellbeing.”
Letters From the Frontline
Later on in the film, we hear more from Sofia Jannok and Enqueri Ehueunguime, along with Danielle Ingabire from Burundi. This section of the documentary titled Letters From the Frontline is the most informative and powerful as we hear first-hand about the loss of Indigenous culture and land of the Sámi people and the Waorani people, as well as the impact of the climate crisis of the livelihoods of people in Burundi.
Jannok describes how the Sámi people are losing their land and water at an unprecedented rate, and how the land is tied to their identity.
“The most efficient way to protect mother earth is to protect her protectors. Stand with Indigenous people because we are standing with Earth herself.”
Ehueunguime explains how large oil companies invade their land and when the Waorani people started to claim their rights as Indigenous people, they recieved threats that the military and police would come.
“Without the jungle, we don’t exist, without the jungle, we will be dead, because the jungle protects us, and we are protecting our jungle.”
Ingabire states that over 115,000 people have been displaced in Burundi as a result of climate change. She recommends that the world applies ‘the polluter pays’ principle, and national and local institutions to strengthen the environmental governance.
A Defining Moment
Another powerful moment in this documentary is Vivienne Westwood’s commentary which calls out corporate media and the linkage between capitalism and climate change.
“Capitalism and climate change are two snakes that eat each other’s tail accelerating the economy down. We’re on a permanent dive. The one is eating the other.”
Messages of Hope
The documentary ends on a positive note, where everyone featured was asked what gives them hope. Common threads between speakers include that young people and generations are communicating more about climate issues, as well as that togetherness is the solution.
Final Thoughts
This film is an important contribution to conversations about the climate crisis, offering a wide range of insights and perspectives. It is an incredible resource due to the addition of Indigenous perspectives and it not only informs, but inspires action. I would have loved if it went more in-depth about sustainability in the music industry as a number of music artists were featured. However, maybe that’s more suited to a documentary on its own. I would recommend this documentary for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of climate issues.
Check out the film here:
Sources
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OVERHEATED THE DOCUMENTARY: A film for a critically overheating planet | Full Documentary