Chasing Ice
Chasing Ice is a 2012 documentary film about the efforts of nature photographer James Balog and his Extreme Ice Survey (EIS) to publicize the effects of climate change, directed by Jeff Orlowski.[1] It was released in the United States on November 16, 2012.
| Chasing Ice | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jeff Orlowski |
| Produced by | Paula DuPre' Pesemen, Jerry Aronson |
| Written by | Mark Monroe |
| Music by | J. Ralph |
| Cinematography | Jeff Orlowski |
| Edited by | Davis Coombe |
| Distributed by | Submarine Deluxe |
Release date |
|
Running time | 75 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,331,836 |
The documentary includes scenes from a glacier calving event that took place at Jakobshavn Glacier in Greenland, lasting 75 minutes, the longest such event ever captured on film.[2][3] Two EIS videographers waited several weeks in a small tent overlooking the glacier, and were finally able to witness 7.4 cubic kilometres (1.8 cu mi) of ice crashing off[4] the glacier. "The calving of a massive glacier believed to have produced the ice that sank the Titanic is like watching a city break apart."[4]
Synopsis
Environmental photographer James Balog heads to Greenland, Iceland and Alaska in order to capture images that will help to convey the effects of global warming. Balog was initially skeptical about climate change when the issue entered scientific discussion, but after his first trip north, he becomes convinced of the impact that humans have on the planet and becomes committed to bringing the story to the public.
Within months of the first trip to Iceland, Balog initiates The Extreme Ice Survey - an expedition to collect data on the seasonal changes of glaciers. Balog and his team deploy cameras that utilize time-lapse photography across various places in the Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world’s glaciers.
The expedition starts off poorly as the team is plagued by numerous technical problems and camera malfunctions. Meanwhile, due to the extreme physical nature of the expeditions, Balog's personal health suffers in the form of knee complications.
After making improvements to the equipment, Balog and his team are finally able to collect time-lapse photos that depict the drastic erosion and disappearance of enormous, ancient glaciers.
Reception
As of October 2020, this film has a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 72 reviews and an average score of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Chasing Ice captures the urgency of climate change while prevailing as entertainment, thanks the awe-inspiring scenery and James Balog's charisma".[5] It also has a score of 75 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[6]
The film won the Satellite Award for Best Documentary Film.
Music
The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for the song "Before My Time," written by J. Ralph and performed by Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell.[7]
References
- Collins, Mark (January 10, 2013). "'Chasing Ice,' documentary with Boulder ties, fails in bid for Oscar nomination". Denver Post. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- Carrington, Damian, "Chasing Ice movie reveals largest iceberg break-up ever filmed", The Guardian, UK, retrieved 24 January 2014
- "Media reviews", Chasing Ice, 2012, archived from the original on 2014-02-09, retrieved 24 January 2014
- Dudek, Duane (2012), "Chasing ice pursues chilling evidence of climate change", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, retrieved 24 January 2014
- "Chasing Ice Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- https://www.metacritic.com/movie/chasing-ice
- Carlson, Erin (20 February 2013). "Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 July 2013.