Green Week is a time dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the power of storytelling and film in shaping our understanding of nature and our place within it. Through gripping dramas, sweeping adventures, fantasy, and even eerie horror, movies offer social commentaries and perspectives on our relationship with the environment. The following list contains a selection of movies that examine the themes of ecological exploitation, isolation, and the quiet wisdom of the natural world. They don’t just entertain –– they provoke thought, stir emotion, and remind us that we cannot turn our backs to nature: they encourage us to see Earth with fresh eyes and take action to preserve it.
Silent Running (1972)
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“On Earth, everywhere you go, the temperature is 75 degrees. Everything is the same. All the people are exactly the same.”
Douglas Trumbull’s Silent Running is a science-fiction film that is set in a future where the Earth’s natural wonders and flora have gone extinct. As part of a mission, ecologist Lowell maintains a greenhouse at a space station for the future with his robot companions. The movie presents a scenario where that microcosmos that Lowell deeply cares for is just as threatened in the space station as it was on the planet. The movie is the first piece of cinema to focus on the preservation of nature as a central theme, making it an absolute must-watch. Although a slow-paced film, the story is emotional, human, and raw. A sentimental exploration of environmentalism, the movie also includes songs by Joan Baez to support its message: it’s not too late to protect a world where children can grow out in the sun, just like forests.
Dersu Uzala (1975)
Image via FilmGrab
Dersu Uzala is undeniably one of Akira Kurosawa’s best works. His only non-Japanese movie, the epic yet intimate story centers on a military explorer, Vladimir Arsenyev, as he befriends a Goldi man, Dersu Uzala, in Russia’s unmapped forests. As their bond deepens and friendship blooms, one cannot help but feel utter respect for Dersu Uzala – a man who, although lives away from civilization, in the forest, seems to know more about life and nature than any other person. However, although the Captain accepts Dersu, his rushed and civilized world doesn’t. The film truly makes you lament modernization and what progress truly means, and makes you realize how much is lost in the rush of modernity: the most atavistic, intrinsic, and essential part of what makes us human, that is, our harmony and connection with nature. An impressive work of art, it is even more striking to know that it is based on the captain’s memoir. A few minor alterations were made in order to make it into a movie, but Kurosawa made sure to be true to the real story. Shot in 70mm, its gorgeous photography captivates you from the very beginning.
Into the Wild (2007)
Christopher McCandless, Image via The Guardian
Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless, Image via FilmGrab
“Happiness is only real when shared”
Into the Wild, another film based on true events, tells the story of Christopher McCandless, who, after graduating from Emory University in 1992, decided to abandon all his possessions, donate all his saved money to charity, and hitchhike to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Sean Penn’s movie is based on John Krakauer’s 1996 novel of the same name, and they both open an interesting dialogue: the quest for purpose away from materialism, away from society, is appealing to many. But facing nature, confronting it –while it can be attractive and exotic to the urban individual– does not come without dangers. Romanticizing wilderness can be just as fatal as excluding it from our society. Once again, we see that the answer lies in finding a balance; learning to live in harmony with nature; acknowledging its threats and risks, and respecting it. The look at life, the dialogues, and the soundtrack –with Eddie Vedder’s songs– are powerful and breathtaking. This is the kind of movie you didn’t know you needed until it finds you. It is an unbelievably beautiful, hard, and heartbreaking journey altogether.
Princess Mononoke (1997)
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Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke is a profound and sophisticated story. Set in 14th century Japan, Ashitaka, a young Emishi prince, kills a demon in order to protect his village. However, his arm gets wounded by the creature, and Ashita goes on a quest to find a cure that will heal his arm. As his journey unfolds, he will find himself tangled up in a series of conflicts between Irontown and the forest of gods, where he will also meet San, a young human raised by wolves who is trying to protect the forest. The Studio Ghibli movie portrays a complex relationship between nature and industry. Among its many arguments, it highlights the consequences of deforestation and the cost of change or expansion. With stunning visuals and animations, Princess Mononoke remains as relevant as ever. Ultimately, its message is clear: we must find a path toward balance and coexistence with humans, technology and, most importantly, nature.
Avatar (2009)
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If we are going to mention animation movies, we cannot forget about James Cameron’s Avatar. When the movie first came out in 2009, the film industry experienced a before and after in terms of CGI and the use of technology. People were blown away by it; it was a refreshing concept and story. But perhaps its most powerful part is the storyline that inspired the astonishing visuals: in the 22nd century, Earth suffers ecological collapse. Finding a new place to call home and make use of their resources, humans are colonizing Pandora, a habitable world. However, Pandora is already inhabited by the Na’vi, highly evolved creatures albeit their primitive looks. Through technology, genetically matched human scientists control some Na’vi-human hybrids called “avatars.” Among those is Jake Sullivan, a paralyzed former marine who becomes mobile again. As his story unfolds, Sullivan will fall in love with a Na’vi woman, but tensions between their two worlds will grow. The conflict of Pandora conveys strong criticism towards corporate exploitation. Just like the previous films showed us, Avatar, too, depicts the importance of living in harmony with nature. In 2022, James Cameron released its sequel, Avatar: The Way of the Water, and the third movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is scheduled to be released this December, so it is the perfect time to revisit the first movie!
Mother! (2017)
Image via The New York Times
Last on the list is Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! This hunting and shocking movie shows the life of a couple whose relationship is tested when two uninviting guests arrive at their home. While the plot seems simple, the story is far from it. With chilling performances by Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, the movie leaves you with an unsettling feeling after you watch it. Jennifer Lawrence herself mentioned how this was her most difficult and physically demanding role she ever had, stating how she lost herself in the movie, feeling the anxiety of the story. The whole film is an allegory for climate change, where the protagonist represents Mother Earth, the house; the planet; Bardem’s character represents God; and the guests, humanity’s destructive impact. Aronofsky uses the structure of the Bible to develop and discuss how humans occupy the Earth and deepen his symbolism. Not even the main characters have names in the film, reinforcing their archetypal roles. In short, this discomforting movie offers a commentary on the destruction of Mother! Earth. While it doesn’t offer a clear solution, it is still a piece worth watching to think about our role in the planet.
