I Am Greta Review – Balanced and Impartial Coverage of The Teen Activist

Details
Category: Indies, Docs, Foreign Film
Published on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 14:19
Written by Janet Walker

I Am Greta, from Hulu, presents Greta Thunberg, the girl behind the global environmental movement that galvanized the world's youth unifying them into a single voice forcing governments to listen, and energized them into activism to demand change.

The film begins with a collage of environmental images, with voice overs of leaders each calling climate change a hoax, and attacking the extreme weather changes, wildfires, and rising temperature of the earth as a money-making venture.

Then it is 2018, and we meet Greta Thunberg, fifteen years old, who decides to hold a school strike outside the Swedish Parliament. With what many believe is the pivotal moment of change, she is prepared with flyers and a "School Strike for the Climate" sign. She sits, alone.

Soon she is joined, as time moves forward others equally concerned also join her. Then the media shows up and this pint-sized, activist, becomes nationally known.

Stardust Review – Insightful, Riveting, Excellent Story Driven Performances

I Am Greta also introduces the audience to Greta's life. Following her through her home, the most telling shot of the differences in great and her sister are the two bedrooms, in the same frame. Greta sister's a typical teen with wallpapered shots of every teen idol and Greta's room, sedate, and studious. It also highlights the freedom the parents, Swedish actress Malena Ernman and Svante Thunberg, give each of the daughters to pursue their own ideas and lives.

Greta, as we come to find out, at one time in her life, was extremely ill and didn't speak for three years. It seems odd, for someone so vocal to have had that time of extreme mutism. And to hear her describe that season it doesn't seem odd. She also deals with her diagnosed Asperger's Syndrome.

The film chronicles the rise as she and her father receive the first call from the United Nations Environmental Summit in Poland where she delivers what will be the first of many powerhouse speeches, which categorically assess blame for the out of control environmental issues on the political leaders of the day.

Minari Review – Tender, Truthful Storytelling, Awards Worthy

Her demands are clear, every nation must align itself with the Paris Accord. She doesn't deliver a list of measures each government must address, she doesn't provide the blueprint, nor does she single out one nation to lead this charge.

Essentially what she is saying is each nation agreed to the Paris Accord now stick with it. She, and as we see, millions of youth worldwide are simply tired of the pollical lies propagated by politicians who agree to make changes, take a nice photo, and walk away leaving all the agreements behind.

Her ability to galvanize the European nations does not go well with many. The documentary also includes the detractors who from American News Media Fox to European television she is call brash, "a turd." Her parents are vilified as publicity hounds, accused of furthering their own careers while pushing their daughter to the forefront and riding the back of the climate change movement to the ATM.

The film, shot in the fly on the wall perspective and captures the ups and downs of the sudden non-stop European travel which has Greta meeting French President Macron, meeting other activists in Belgium, holding a rally to the tune of Queen's, "We Will Rock You," attending governmental meetings where they witness the inability of leaders to grasp the urgency of the movement.

Uncle Frank Review – Four Stars! Truthful, Tour de Force Performances

Finally, she is invited to New York to speak at UN Climate Action Summit in New York City. For Greta, who is passionate about living a life of sustainability refuses to fly, which only leaves one option. Supported by HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, she and her father begin the fearful and arduous journey across the Atlantic.

The two-week journey, the fear of the unknown, no matter the brave face, has her scared and it is noticeable. Finally, they can see the New York Harbor, where she is met with crowds, three and four deep, chanting her name.

Today, her #FridaysForFuture movement has organized climate strikes on every continent except Antarctica. As she tells the UN, "The world is waking up, and change is coming whether you like it or not.

I Am Greta, is deeply insightful and in addition to introducing the world to someone who will certainly become even more of a world changer, shows the dedication, determination and drive of a generation to finally put an end to the old ways, the old policies and create lasting change.

Most Guys Are Losers Review – Entertaining, Lighthearted, Romantic Comedy

This film is presented by Rise Above Colorado and is currently playing at the (#DFF) Denver Film Festival. It can be seen via this link.

RUNTIME - 97 minutes

LANGUAGE - English, Swedish

DIRECTOR - Nathan Grossman

PRODUCER - Fredrik Heinig, Cecilia Nessen

CAST - Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Emmanuel Macron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Antoino Guterres, Malena Ernman

CINEMATOGRAPHER - Nathan Grossman

EDITOR - Charlotte Landelius, Hanna Lejonqvist, Magnus Svensson

Haute News

Haute Tease

  • La Vésubie Pense au Monde

    L'épisode méditerranéen qui a frappé le sud-est de la France renvoie le pays à la gestion des effets des catastrophes naturelles dans un contexte désormais acté de réchauffement climatique. Et la question d'une remise en question mondiale de se poser.  

  • Celebrity Interview: Norman Reedus – End of an Era

    After 12 years of killing zombies and capturing viewers' hearts on AMC's The Walking Dead, Norman Reedus has a new book coming out this month, The Ravaged, a story of three personal quests with abnormally parallel outcomes.

     

  • The Trip to Italy Review - A Five Star Michelin Rated Experience

    "The Trip to Italy," from IFC Films, BBC Films and Revolution Films, brings to the screen the perfect summer vacation adventure for those of us who can't indulge in an all expenses five star paid vacation through Italy.

     

  • Time Out of Mind Review - Gere, Sedgwick and Vereen Create an Extraordinary Portrayal

    Time Out Of Mind, from IFC Films, brings to the screen a rare, honest and poignant representation of homelessness, the fix-it spiral, the impotent system, the sabotage from callous and uncaring workers and the life of the homeless.

     

  • Gift Guide: Sports and Travel Backpacks

    For many the official holiday season brings travel to winter destinations, summer climates, overnight business and weekend trips, and there is nothing better than an organized backpack for all the stuff to go along with the trip.

     

  • Dope is Death Review – A Story of Hope, Radicalism, and Determination

    Dope is Death, tells the story of how Dr. Mutulu Shakur, along with fellow Black Panthers and the Young Lords, combined community health with radical politics to create the first acupuncture detoxification program in America in 1970s Harlem.