Chasing Ice

Film (2012)

With James Balog, Svavar Jonatansson, Adam LeWinter, as themselves

The goal of this astute and pointed documentary is clear and well-defined – to counter any arguments against global warming with vivid photographic evidence. In painstaking ways, the protagonist, James Balog, a dedicated nature photographer, sets up time-lapse documentation systems in locations where the ice is disappearing, including, among others, Greenland, Alaska, and Glacier National Park in Montana. The results are striking, and the starkness of the melting is driven home by this photographic account.

Anyone who thinks that arguments against global warming are abstract and unfounded hypotheses should see this film. To watch large chunks of glacier crack off and melt away is heartbreaking. And to see the clear evidence of areas in which ice has completely disappeared from the landscape is, one might easily say, earth shattering.

For those who take seriously the threat of global warming, this concise documentary will reinforce a sense of urgency.

As well, Balog’s passion for the subject, his ingenuity in developing his documentation techniques, and his commitment to the project are moving and inspiring.

The photography is gorgeous, the thesis is compellingly documented, and Balog’s character is highly engaging, making for a film to be seen for many reasons.

– BADMan