Chasing Ice: the Documentary to Catch Before it Melts

Avoiding more of those climate change movies because you already recycle and bring your own coffee cup to Wawa? Sick of those eco propaganda “art forms” guilting you for how much “we” Americans waste each year? Good news: Chasing Ice is a different type of Climate Change movie. It never talks about what you’re doing wrong, what’s really in your food or what you’re not recycling.

Instead, Chasing Ice shows you the result.

Chasing Ice: Documentary

Last week, one of my friends invited me to a “really good documentary” at the Ritz downtown. Let’s note that this documentary started at 9:50 PM, which is 10 minutes before my ideal bed time (that I never hit…). Although I typically decline any invitation past 7:30 PM on a school night, the looming Mayan-predicted end of world pushed me into a spontaneous yes. After hearing the brief summary was “about a guy taking pictures of melting ice,” I knew this was perfectly up my alley.

Chasing Ice follows National Geographic photographer James Balog, who has the idea to SHOW people that climate change exists. As part of the “Extreme Ice Survey”, he and his small team plant cameras capturing views of glaciers to record shots over several month periods. Of course, the first couple of trials don’t work (parts of the camera freeze, some get buried by snow, etc) but he finally cracks the code to glacier-porn recording perfection. Interviews with his family and colleagues show the intensity of the project. Also, seeing Balog suffer knee problems that threaten his project test his determination to complete this incredible project.

The Extreme Ice Survey team captures more than the occasional picture – they track rapid acceleration of glaciers melting (that match OR exceed the past 100 years difference in a matter of 2-3 years) and even a glacier the size of Manhattan (casing?) and breaking off into the ocean. Although it’s easy to start getting bored by the looming “our-climate-is-burning-in-hell” Treehugger headlines, it is something that you need to see to start to comprehend. One of the highlights (or lowlights, depending on how you look at it…) is when they capture the largest iceberg calving on film. (Literally, a piece of ice the size of Manhattan falls into the ocean. It’s crazy.)

Awards for Chasing Ice

Chasing Ice has already won 23 awards, including Excellence in Cinematography Award for a US Documentary at Sundance. It’s definitely a film you’ll want to see and share with your climate change-denying friends. Or perfectly said:”Chasing Ice depicts a photographer trying to deliver evidence and hope to our carbon-powered planet.”

Still not convinced? Here’s the Chasing Ice trailer to get you psyched to see it:

Although it just left the Ritz, it’s coming to the Collegeville Colonial Theatre in February and many other theaters.

Readers, have you seen Chasing Ice? Any other movie reviews or opinions?