Ice on Fire

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!

Ice On Fire collates all of the climate science and makes it understandable. Earth is dying and dying quickly. If making this documentary makes people change their mind, then maybe it can help save the planet.

Unless you live under a rock you are aware of climate change. Whether you believe in the science of it or instead choose to put on your political blinders and profess it's not real, this film presents a multitude of answers and solutions for an innovative and positive way forward. The science of how atmospheric CO2 build up is affecting our planet is laid out with care such that a layman can understand but with enough specificity that it is not oversimplified. But it does not stop there. Countless solutions are presented by various scientists, researchers, and innovators around the globe explaining ways that we can not only stop our carbon footprint from rapid expansion but also how we can actually reverse that footprint. We have a limited amount of time to effectively implement these incredible ideas but it is not yet too late. The fact that these ideas have already passed proof of concept and continue to be scaled across the world should be enough reason to get behind them; that they open up tens of millions of new jobs, economic growth, and a path for our children and future generations to inhabit this Earth long after we're gone should leave no doubt that whatever your political leanings, it's time to act. PERIOD.