Global Warming

Introduction

Arguably the most famous documentary of the early 21st century about the issues of global warming and climate change, An Inconvenient Truth was directed by Davis Guggenheim, with former U.S. Vice President Albert A. Gore, Jr., as narrator and creator. Gore steals the show, and very few people remember the filmmaker's name. An Inconvenient Truth is in essence a filmed public lecture, one and a half hours long, delivered by a former politician, not a scientist, about the importance and dangers of global warming.

Josie (pp. 67-89) mentions the main character, Al Gore, is progressively introduced in the first scenes of the film, just before the film's title appears on the screen. The opening images show only nature: a calm river. Then, Gore's voice is coupled with various images of individuals from the audience who listen carefully to his message. At this point, Gore is viewed only from behind. Reaction shots are taken from individuals in the audience: most people listen, applaud; in another shot, others have the chance to get nearer or to talk to him directly (Josie, pp. 67-89). A man who seems impressed takes a photograph of nearby Gore, another candidly films him with his mobile telephone, showing that this is an important person, and this rare meeting is to become a memorable moment for all those who had the chance to encounter him. In the background, soft, instrumental music plays in a New Age style.

An Inconvenient Truth (Film): Description of Film

In May 2006 the film An Inconvenient Truth opened in Los Angeles and New York. This documentary about climate change was directed by Davis Guggenheim and features former vice president Al Gore discussing the damaging impact of global warming on the world's environment. Gore, presenting data and images in what has come to be known as his "slide show," describes how carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases generated primarily by fossil-fuel consumption have been spewed into the atmosphere where they trap heat close to the earth's surface. The heat comes from solar energy that would ideally be absorbed by the oceans and the land and then radiated back into space. The presence of heat-trapping gases such as CO2, water vapor, and nitrous oxide, however, partially blocks the release of the earth's heat (National Review, pp. 45-57). The resulting "greenhouse effect" warms up the planet's temperature. In fact, scientists record that within the last century, global temperatures have risen roughly three-quarters of a degree Celsius. Extrapolating from this observation, Gore predicts that unchecked global warming will raise temperatures to destructive heights in the future, drying out soils, altering ecosystems (National Review, pp. 45-57), and melting polar ice that will subsequently swamp coastlines as the sea level rises. He warns that unless the world's governments and citizens take corrective steps to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, Earth is headed for catastrophe.

In words of Holman (pp. 23-35) critical response to An Inconvenient Truth was overwhelmingly positive, and several environmental organizations and publications support Gore's call to action. Writing in ...