Documentarian and cinematographer Jeff Orlowski has made one of the great Academy Award nominated films of 2012. His film Chasing Ice isn’t nominated for the category “Best Documentary, Feature” but rather for “Best Original Song”. Composed by J. Ralph, “Before My Time” is sung beautifully by Scarlett Johansson at the end of the film. Most noteworthy, Chasing Ice is an excellent documentary that convinces and calls attention to the issue of Global Warming.
The film tells the story of James Balog, a photographer for National Geographic, as he sets upon the Arctic with time-lapse cameras to record the change in glaciers over 3 years and reveal staggering information on how Global Warming is actually getting. It is a beautiful, well shot film that shows the other worldliness of the Arctic glaciers with the destruction of them on the other hand. “An Inconvenient Truth” was just the beginning, “Chasing Ice” is a first hand account of how our world is changing and the effects it is having on the environment.
Balog mentions he used to be a skeptic about the whole Global Warming notion, being just a reason for activists, etc. Just as he is now convinced, we as the audience buy into it with this must see documentary. It is an effective piece that brings up an issue that we as the human race need to wake up and begin to seriously consider. Witnessing Balog’s constant dedication, even during times of physical collapse, is inspiring in a way that anyone can make true difference, with enough people together – maybe there could be some change.
Educational and captivating, this is a documentary everyone should see. Oscar winner Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) makes an appearance in the film as well.
Chasing Ice was released last November in the United States, but will show again as part of the Mountain Film Festival in Houston, TX – occurring February 22-23.
