Ice on Fire

This is a pertinent and powerful documentary once again coming from DiCaprio. This documentary tries to find ways to stop or reverse the negative effects of climate change. The cinematography is brilliant; the narrative voice of DiCaprio confident and urgent without being haughty. And most importantly, it is based on facts and statistics from around the world.

I have to say that in the world that we currently reside I am experiencing a huge amount of overwhelming doom, maybe even a constant existential crisis regarding the global climate situation. It feels crushing, and it SHOULD because of the severity of what we are facing.

Ice on Fire takes a different, and I would say, more important approach to how we will potentially and actually deal with the Herculean task of slowing down global warming. With incredible and committed minds focusing on technologies and strategies, Ice on Fire is far from gloomy. On the contrary, I left the movie with an overwhelming feeling of hope, and a passion to see what *I* could personally do, contribute to, study and research to participate in the solution. That felt like a gift, the lifting off of my (and so many other people who are committed to addressing the dangerous present and catastrophic future of climate change) shoulders the burden of powerlessness. We are NOT powerless.

We CAN do something. This documentary opens the critical dialog of what we need to be thinking about and acting on NOW, with a sharp eye to even more effective ways of taking responsibility for slowing down global climate change. THANK YOU for making this film, and at such an important moment in our history. Thank you.

I would like to add a special nod to the intensely beautiful cinematography. This world is irreplaceable, and seeing SO many beautifully diverse places on our planet made me cry at the potential of it's loss to all of us. Human beings are steering this ship, and every other inhabitant---who, unlike humans---cannot stand up and fight for it's protection. It is OUR responsibility, and we have HOPE of making the changes necessary to save our planet.

Anyone who has been paying attention, knows there is a climate catastrophe underway. Ice on Fire takes viewers into the field and into the labs to show us how we indisputably know this. The science is solid -- it should be noted that ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other corporations (most notably insurance companies) have released statements that climate change is a real threat to infrastructure and national security, but this film takes it a step further and takes us to sites where governments and corporations are working to solve the problem of removing carbon from the environment. This is refreshing. Not only are solutions being found and are working, we get a glimpse on how a future economy will work and like all economies, the ones who invest in the future will be its beneficiaries, while those who ignore the problem and refuse to invest in the new technology will be left behind. Ice on Fire resists cynicism and works against dread even as scientists punch holes in the ice of an Alaskan lake and light the escaping methane from the thawing permafrost on fire. The film also doesn't give any airtime to the trite spiels of climate deniers, conspiracy theorists, or any of the naysayers who can only speak in logical fallacies. It didn't need to. We have been run ragged by them and know they aren't about finding solutions to the crisis, but exacerbating it. These people would have detracted from the film's purpose and lent credibility to those who don't deserve any. Ice on Fire is beautifully shot and edited. It hits the right balance between interview, narration, facts and tables without being boring. But its engaging artistry is all directed to show us if enough people contribute their voices to support these efforts already underway and support the research to discover as yet undiscovered solutions, we and many other living things will continue to exist on this planet, and the powerful play that is the human story will go on.

At a time when climate science is being all-too-often renounced as a hoax, and widening economic inequality is continuing to jeopardize people's quality of life, Ice on Fire offers innovative solutions that address both preeminent issues simultaneously. By featuring cutting edge, solutions-oriented research that not only boasts significant and fast-acting carbon sequestration, but that also contains the capability of generating profit, scientists are instead envisioning a more pragmatic, bases loaded approach to sustainable solutions that even a more skeptical and conservative audience, whose primary concerns are job creation and profitability, can buy into. One of the unique ways this film bridges the accessibility gap found in many science-heavy documentaries is through it's highlighting of relatable innovators whose stories and efforts can be understood by anyone. Most notable are the tales of two farmers who are transforming their respective industries by bringing environmentally sustainable solutions to traditionally working class practices; Iatef Vita's urban farming amidst the concrete jungles of LA and Bren Smith's kelp and shellfish farming along the shores of the East Coast are two examples that could be affordably implemented and highly impactful in a myriad of ways from boosting local economies to improving community health. Ice on Fire as a whole paints a hopeful vision of collaborative solutions to our impending ecological crisis through Mehmedinovic's striking cinematography and Connors' incisive direction.

Ice on Fire gives the plain, unvarnished facts. There is no political intrigue, double-dealing, no politically correct but confusing language. This is a documentary that presents the facts in a way that anyone can understand. DiCaprio's voice is solemn but factual, Leila Connors did a brilliant job directing, and Harun Mehmedinovic surpassed his prodigious cinematography/photographic talents. Over all, after the sobering facts are presented, we of planet Earth are given viable solutions., solutions that each of us can reasonably do. Bravo! Well done!