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One of the highlights - and most well received and attended screenin g - of the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival was without a doubt, former Vice-President Al Gore presenting his film AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. In an open air plaza in downtown LA, movie-goers were greeted by Mr. Gore and some rather special guests, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and director Davis Guggenheim.
A long time activist against global warming, Gore has been traveling across the country presenting a multi-media seminar bringing this burning issue to light. Thanks to director Davis Guggenheim, the seminar has been captured on film and is in theaters now.
Through the use of charts, graphs, photos and archival footage, (obviously the man knows visual aids are key), Mr. Gore succinctly explains with unabashed enthusiasm the global warming crisis and how it is affecting our planet. Breaking everything down to basics, even young children can understand this man’s message.
In plain, simple English, Gore explains how our carbon dioxide levels are at their highest level in 600,000 years and rising. Not satisfied with just throwing out numbers and names, Gore presents documented scientific evidence to back up his statements and provides fascinating and engaging footage demonstrating how the information is obtained. Among others, with cores of ice pulled up from the Antarctic ice shelf, and others, we learn about air bubbles trapped within the ice and the aging techniques and analysis that tells us just how destructive man has become.
More graphs and charts, as well as a cherry-picker raising Gore “off the charts” in illustration, concisely examine the ill-effects this global warming has had on rising temperatures which in turn affect ocean currents, eco-systems, disease and yes, even weather and the “natural” disasters that have been increasingly plaguing the planet in recent years. I have had very few teachers in my life that are as easily understood and communicable as Gore. He is so well-spoken and the subject so thoroughly researched and presented, that it is impossible not to become immersed in the film. By its end, it is impossible to not comprehend his message and the cause and effect relationship of the global event. Allowing his frustration with governments, this Administration and even the public themselves, to shine through, Gore’s commitment and sense of humanity are compelling.
Not just an education on the inconvenient truth we must all face, the film provides just enough snippets of Gore “off duty” to give a sense of his history, who he is, where he comes from, how he got here and from where his passion comes. To have seen the Al Gore in this film during the 2000 presidential campaign, “hanging chads” might never have come into play.
As if Gore’s presentation alone isn’t enticing enough, director Guggenheim captures us with some excellent cinematographic work and completes the picture with razor sharp precision editing. Nothing fancy, just clean, simple and effective.
Disarmingly and alarmingly sincere in both its message and presentation, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH is a truth that has to be seen.
Written and directed by Davis Guggenheim.
Photos © 2006 - All Rights Reserved
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