How to Change the World | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jerry Rothwell |
Written by | Jerry Rothwell |
Produced by | Al Morrow Bous de Jong |
Narrated by | Barry Pepper |
Cinematography | Ben Lichty |
Edited by | James Scott |
Music by | Lesley Barber |
Distributed by | Picturehouse Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 112 minutes |
Countries | United Kingdom Canada |
Language | English |
How to Change the World is a documentary film, from writer-director Jerry Rothwell (Deep Water), which chronicles the adventures of an eclectic group of young pioneers who set out to stop Richard Nixon’s atomic bomb tests in Amchitka, Alaska, and end up creating the worldwide green movement with the birth of Greenpeace.
Synopsis
In 1971, a group of friends sail into a nuclear test zone, and their protest captures the world’s imagination. Using never before seen archive that brings their extraordinary world to life, How To Change The World is the story of the pioneers who founded Greenpeace and defined the modern green movement.
Cast
- Barry Pepper as Narrator
- Bill Darnel
- David “Walrus” Garrick
- Bobbi Hunter
- Emily Hunter
- Will Jackson
- George Korotva
- Myron McDonald
- Rod Marining
- Patrick Moore
- Ron Precious
- Paul Spong
- Carlie Truman
- Paul Watson
- Rex Weyler
Release and marketing
The documentary first premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, winning the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing and the Candescent Award.[1][2] A first trailer was released on July 30.[3]
On September 9, Picturehouse will screen the documentary across 400 U.S. cinemas (presented with Fathom Events stateside) and 150 in the U.K., followed by a satellite Q&A with Rothwell, fashion designer and Greenpeace supporter Vivienne Westwood and other guests. The event will unspool in Blighty first but will be recorded and then broadcast in the U.S. five hours later due to the time difference. The event is scheduled ahead of its U.K. release on September 11.[4]
Reception
The film received generally positive reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 86% approval rating, with a rating average of 8/10.
Dennis Harvey praised the film in Variety noting, "The goldmine of 16mm color footage, whose propagandic value participants were quite cognizant of at the time, is in mint condition, showing the excitement and fun of the movement in its earliest days."[5] Kate Taylor from the The Globe and Mail gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, adding that "Whatever you think of Greenpeace’s less well-considered antics over the years, How to Change the World is a compelling story of one environmentalist’s remarkable combination of prescience, grit and timing."[6] The Toronto Star wrote "Almost a "found footage" movie, it makes excellent use of 1,500 archived 16 mm reels supplemented with fresh interviews and some animation."[7]
Accolades
The film has received accolades.[8]
Year | Award | Category | Result |
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2015 | Sundance Film Festival | World Doc Special Jury Award: Editing | Won |
Candescent Award | Won | ||
2015 | Sheffield Documentary Festival | Best Environmental Documentary | Won |
2015 | Sebastopol Documentary Festival | Best Feature | Won |
2015 | Portland EcoFilm Festival | Best Feature Film | Won |
2015 | Hot Docs | Top Ten Audience Favourite | Won |
References
- ^ "Sundance Winner's List". Deadline. http://deadline.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
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- ^ "Sundance 2015 Winner's List". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
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- ^ "How to Change the World trailer: Greenpeace's rise examined in new documentary". The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
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- ^ "Picturehouse Targets U.S. With Documentary 'World'". Variety. http://variety.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
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- ^ Dennis, Harvey. "Sundance Film Review: 'How to Change the World'". Variety. http://variety.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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- ^ "How to Change the World: Compelling doc charts dramatic rise of Greenpeace". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
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- ^ Howell, Peter. "Mini reviews of The Gift, How to Change the World, Diamond Tongues, Cocksure Lads". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
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- ^ "HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD". Official Website. http://www.howtochangetheworldmovie.com.
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