This Changes Everything is a solid documentary featuring a number of environmental activists around the world. The film shows a day in the life of these activists as they try to sustain the planet and get others on board at the same time. This film was designed to appeal to those not yet concerned about sustaining the environment. This is done by delving into the lives of these activists and realizing the struggle they must endure to keep our earth clean. The film travels to five places: Alberta, Montana, Greece, India, and China, and we meet activists of all classes and races, but they all run into similar problems. Crystal from Canada is an indigenous activist attempts to gain access to a military base that was once her tribe’s land, but she is restricted by higher companies. In Montana, a goat ranching couple whose land was disturbed by oil from a broken pipeline, prompting them to advocate against fossil fuel extraction. And in Greece, housewife Melachini advocates against gold mining company ElDorado Gold that dig into their lands.
Part of the reason this film works so well is the cinematography that so accurately displays the environmental issues the world is facing. Although they are beautiful captured shots, they are almost surreal in that it’s hard to believe that is happening in real time. This Changes Everything offers a glimpse into an activist’s life around the world, and hopefully makes viewers change everything they thought they knew about global activism.
