Next World Environment Day, this Friday, is also the date set for the world premiere of Yann Arthus Bertrand's Home Documentary. The movie is a collection of unique aerial footage from over 50 countries, which will try to show the state of the planet in natural and urban areas with the goal of inciting people to act.
Says the producer, Denis Carot, "Home is a film with a message that sets out to shift people's perceptions, make us aware of the tectonic movements at work and incite us to act. Although there is a general trend in our societies towards an awareness of ecological issues, concrete action is still too little, too slow—which constitutes in some ways the creed of the movie: It's too late to be a pessimist".
Find out more details on the movie and about the events around the world for the premiere in the extended.Foundations and Idea behind Home
Although famous for its Earth from Above pictures, this is the first movie by French photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand. He got the idea of making it moved by the impact Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth had since its release.
"When I invited Al Gore to show his film, An Inconvenient Truth, to the French Parliament, I realized just how much impact a movie could have, even more than a TV program. I saw how moved the audience was—to tears in some cases—and I said to myself that a feature film was an excellent way of reaching people," he said in an interview at the press release brochure.
Great Prismatic springs at the Yellowstone Park, United States. ©Film "Home", a coproduction by Elzevir Films/Europacorp. A movie from above
Following his tradition of aerial photography, Arthus Bertrand set off to make a movie entirely shot from above. Why is a movie from above necessary? Producer Denis Carot explains in the same release: "I was convinced that the idea of shooting a movie entirely from up in the sky, without interviews or archive footage, was the right one, but I couldn't pinpoint why. One conversation enlightened me: 'From the sky, there's less need for explanations.' Absolutely! One's vision is more immediate, intuitive and emotional. That's what sets Home apart from all the other movies on the environment—which are all equally necessary in this crucial period for humanity. Home impacts directly on the sensibility of anyone who sees it, bringing us to awareness, through emotion initially, in order to change the way we see the world."
The emissions for the making of the movie were of course offset, by financing a project for Diffusion of anaerobic digesters in India (through Action Carbone).
Shanty town of Makoko, in front of Lagos Island, Nigeria. ©Film "Home", a coproduction by Elzevir Films/Europacorp. Numbers and details of the project
Apart from a documentary, Home is an ambitious project: from day one, it was thought to be released free and worldwide to reach as many people as possible.
To make this possible, the film was sponsored by PPR Group, and also received support from other initiatives, such as the special products designed by high-end brands from the Gucci Group.
It took 217 days of shooting in 54 countries, which added up to 488 hours of footage.
Additionally, the movie has an original music score written by Armand Amar and recorded with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Percussion Ensemble.
Near Khudiala, Rajasthan, India. ©Film "Home", a coproduction by Elzevir Films/Europacorp. World Premiere of Home
For such project, the premiere wasn't going to be just another event. This is why is was set up for World Environmental Day this year and simultaneously around the world. To check the event closest to your location, the production has set up a Google Map divided in regions.
If you're in Buenos Aires, you'll get a chance to see the movie in an open-air cinema set up at the Plaza Naciones Unidas, starting at 9PM and with free entrance of course. More info on this event at Green Tara Producciones.
For further details of the film, check out the official website.