WEATHER REPORT (Brenda Longfellow). 52 minutes. Some subtitles. Friday (May 30), 7 pm. Rating: NN
Filmmaker Brenda Longfellow brings a hectoring tone and scattershot approach to the issue of climate change.
There’s nothing new here, but lots of images to say it.
Longfellow examines the melting polar icecaps, sandstorms in China and many natural disasters. Visually, she relies on clichés like time-lapse photography and too often shifts from depressed rural scenes to shots of the greedy energy-guzzling city to make her point.
The script, co-written by Longfellow and John Kramer, is full of statistics and banalities. Some ideas – for instance, carbon trading – aren’t presented clearly.
Unfortunately, Longfellow also narrates the film, and her speaking voice lacks authority.
GREEN SCREENS to May 31 at the National Film Board (150 John). Free. www.nfb.ca. See listings.