Between Earth and Sky: Climate Change on the Last Frontier

Between Earth and Sky: Climate Change on the Last Frontier is a profound documentary focusing on one of the most urgent issues of our generation–climate change. This captivating film was directed by Paul Allen Hunton and produced by Jonathan Schwarts, notably featuring well-regarded climatologist Katharine Hayhoe and soil expert David Weindorf. The 2017 film takes viewers on an enlightening and eye-opening journey across the breathtaking landscape of Alaska, where we witness the stark truth about climate change, right on ground zero of the global warming front lines.

The title stems from an Inuit saying that reflects on our connection to the world. At the heart of the documentary - the Last Frontier refers to Alaska. The state is an invaluable natural laboratory for studying climate change because its climate, geographical location, and resources make it especially vulnerable. The once permanently frozen ground, or permafrost, is now melting and disrupting life as we know it–positing severe consequences worldwide.

Katharine Hayhoe brings her expertise as a climate science communicator to provide a digestible understanding of the complex topic of global warming. Hayhoe is acclaimed in the scientific community for her work. Meanwhile, David Weindorf leverages his specialty in soil science to explain how the thaw of the permafrost releases stored carbon dioxide and methane. This harmful process warms the atmosphere even more, leading to a self-continued cycle of warming, a phenomenon known as the positive feedback loop.

Both Hayhoe and Weindorf explain everything in simple terms, dewy-eyed about the transformations they see and the implications these changes have on the lives of everyone on the planet – translating science into tangible, understandable elements for the viewers. Their respective communications are buttressed with the use of extensive research data, vivid images, and striking graphics to create an authentic depiction of the circumstances.

The film imparts a sense of urgency by exposing the devastating effects climate change has brought to the environment and human lives. Each scene narrates a story of how climate change affects the life of locals in striking ways. The film shows how rapidly melting ice disrupts the life of indigenous people and wildlife. There is a spotlight on local residents who give personal accounts of how their conditions have drastically changed due to rising temperatures.

However, rather than just focusing on the gloomy side, it explores scientific solutions and the human capacity to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The documentary emphasizes that while we can't completely stop climate change, we can still influence its trajectory. Through sustainability and environmental stewardship, Between Earth and Sky echoes the belief that we can preserve our present and secure the future.

Visually, the film is a treat. Vibrant cinematography captures Alaska's raw beauty: its sprawling wide-breadth forests, towering glaciers, rolling tundra, gleaming water bodies, and breathtaking skies – all under vivid color hues. The film contrasts this beautiful and often otherworldly landscape with the stark realities of climate change in a way that is visually compelling yet deeply unnerving.

What further sets this documentary apart is the incorporation of Alaska's rich cultural history through the voices of Native Alaskan tribes. They contribute a unique standpoint as environmental stewards whose life is intricately woven with nature, portraying not just a scientific issue but an intergenerational human rights crisis.

Between Earth and Sky: Climate Change on the Last Frontier serves as a powerful wake-up call, underlining the urgent need to address climate change. It underscores the importance of understanding the realities and implications of climate change. The film is both a teaching tool offering an in-depth look into the science of climate change and a compelling narrative urging us to take action for the sake of our planet. It is an eloquent, visually stunning, educationally potent, and hard-hitting documentary that leaves the audience not just informed but moved, inspired, and primed to act.