The Last Glaciers * Amazing Film That Really Makes You Think About Climate Change
Embark on a global adventure in IMAX, following filmmaker Craig Leeson and UN Mountain Hero Malcolm Wood as they use extreme sports to explore the causes and effects of climate change. IMAX immerses you in an extraordinary journey to the top of Earth’s glaciers as Leeson and Wood hear from leading scientists and impacted communities about the imminent dangers if we fail to protect what’s left of these rapidly disappearing natural water reservoirs. Filmed over four years in twelve countries, The Last Glaciers captures the fragility of the natural world, the impact humans have on our life support systems and the friendship, personal challenges and tragedies experienced by the explorers during their journey. The Last Glaciers brings forward a call to action from the next generation determined to reverse the climate crisis for their own future.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Mikella G. comments, “The Last Glaciers is an informative, heartwarming film that sucks you into the storyline, and really makes you think about your life and the world around you.” Madeleine H. adds, “The locations where this was filmed are absolutely beautiful and discovering how much glaciers around the planet are shrinking is alarming. Human impact on the planet’s warming is seen in the loss of vital glaciers around the world.” See their full reviews and interview with the director below.
The Last Glaciers
By Madeleine H., KIDS FIRST!, age 9
I was thrilled and moved by the documentary film The Last Glaciers. Watching the paragliders climb to the top of mountains and jump off is a big thrill. The locations where this was filmed are absolutely beautiful and discovering how much glaciers around the planet are shrinking is alarming. Human impact on the planet’s warming is seen in the loss of vital glaciers around the world.
The Last Glaciers is a powerful journey made by extreme sport paragliders and mountaineers with award-winning filmmaker, Craig Leeson. Mr. Leeson set out to film the extreme sport athletes who climb mountains and paraglide off them. What they discover in the not-so-snowy- French Alps leads them on a new quest. The team travels the globe and climbs to daring heights, in challenging conditions, and then they paraglide from mountain peaks to film the condition of glaciers on three continents.
This documentary offers lots of interviews with scientists that study ice cores, from whom we learn about the increasing impact fossil fuels have made on our planet as they compare ice cores that have trapped gasses for over a million years on Earth. A NASA research team flies an airplane equipped with research equipment over uncharted Antarctica to map the changing environment. From scientific research to extreme sports and paragliders flying off of mountain peaks, we wonder if we are seeing the last glaciers. My hat’s off to Craig Leeson, the director and producer of this amazing film, who had to overcome his own feat of heights and learn how to paraglide in order to create this film. His co-director, Malcolm Wood, shares his skills as a mountaineer and paraglider to assist Mr. Leeson and the team to reach critical mountain peaks that they paraglide from and film the glaciers. The stunning natural beauty of the French Alps, the Peruvian Andes and the Himalaya’s is captured by expert cinematographer, Cody Tuttle.
This film is visually beautiful and delivers an important message about climate action. Our planet and its inhabitants are at risk of losing important sources of water from mountain glaciers around the world. We need to reduce our use of fossil fuels to help save the last glaciers.
I give The Last Glaciers 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 6 to 18, plus adults. You can find The Last Glaciers in select IMAX theaters now.
The Last Glaciers
By Mikella G., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
The Last Glaciers is an informative, heartwarming film that sucks you into the storyline, and really makes you think about your life and the world around you.
This documentary follows the main climbers as they take us through their journey of scaling glacier mountains. Throughout the film we learn about how the climate crisis has seriously affected the glaciers, along with the rest of the world.
I really enjoy how informative The Last Glaciers is—it explains how climate change is affecting the world, and raises awareness to the subject. In addition, the structure and tone of the documentary is very easy to understand. For instance, there are lots of visuals, and even though climate change is a complex subject the language is clear and easy enough for the average person to comprehend. Another thing that stands out to me is the quality of the visuals. All of the scenery is beautiful, and even in the extreme weather conditions they had during shooting, they still managed to get good shots. Lastly, the emphasis on the importance of the message is really well done. Throughout the entire film they are constantly reinforcing how important it is that we make a change.
The message of The Last Glaciers is that if we all don’t start actively making a difference to stop climate change, then soon enough we’ll all be affected.
I give The Last Glaciers 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 9 to 18, plus adults. The breathtaking documentary The Last Glaciers opens in select IMAX theatres March 22, 2022.
