ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

IT MAY NOT be the most cinematic film of the year, but ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ might just be one of the most important.

Former American Vice-President Al Gore has been travelling the world, crusading on the issue of global warming and the threat it poses to the future of the planet.

Now that lecture has been captured on film, and mixed with more personal moments from Gore’s life to create a fascinating portrait of the man and his cause.

Gore seems to have gained both a sense of passion and a sense of humour since his questionable defeat in the Presidential election of 2000. He now introduces himself with the words: “I am Al Gore. I used to be the next President of America.”

An environmental campaigner for almost forty years, Gore presents a clearly argued and insightful lecture on what is happening to the world. There is a barrage of information and images of rivers that have run dry, glaciers that have melted and climates that have become unpredictable.

You only need to recall the scenes from New Orleans last year to know that climate change is happening at a swift and deadly rate. Gore doesn’t sensationalise or preach; he merely presents the facts and allows any intelligent viewer to draw their own conclusions.

He also illustrates the way that we can all make a difference by simple alterations in our own behaviour that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced. That could mean driving less, turning down your heating or generating less rubbish. ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is that rare film that might just change the way we live our lives.

Selected nationwide release
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Star: Al Gore
Screenwriter: Al Gore
Certificate: U
Running time: 97 mins
Country: USA
Year: 2006

© Allan Hunter, 2006