Opposite: 2040 writer/directorandpresenterDamon
Gameau All other images:Scenes from 2040The 2019 documentary 2040 takesa small-scalesituation(thelives
ofwriter/directorDamonGameau’simmediatefamily)andpairsit
witha bigidea(climatechange)tocreatea uniqueblendofpeda-
gogy and personalisation.The film starts and ends with present-day
scenesofGameauwithhiswife,Zoë,andtheiryoungdaughter,
Velvet,plantingtrees. Gameauframesthe film aroundthe concept
ofapproachingthefuturethroughhisdaughter’seyes:hewantsto
explorewhatlifewillbelikeforherin adulthood.Acknowledging
today’softengloomy,dystopianvisionsofthefuture,especiallyfrom
anenvironmentalperspective,hecommentsthatweare‘rentingthe
Earthfromourchildren’andadmitsthathefeelsheowesit toVelvet
toexploremoresustainablepossibilities. 2040 ’s tagline– ‘Jointhe
Regeneration’– is a cleverplayonwords,with‘regeneration’refer-
ringbothtoenvironmentalreparationandto his daughter’s emerg-
ing generationas facilitatorsof change.
2040 introducestheeffectsofclimatechangethrougha unique
framingdevice:Gameautakingusintohisfamilyhome.Thisis also
wherethe film’s uniquevisual style first comesinto play. Special
effectsareemployedasGameauwalksusthroughtheeffectsof
climatechangewithreferencetotheeverydayobjectsin hishome:
waterpoursfromhisfreezerashedescribestheplanet’sicecaps
melting;toycarsbeginmovingwithstop-motionanimation,illustrat-
ingcongestionandpollution;miniaturecoalworkersappearin the
fireplace.In doing so, he invitesus to look at our own homes,using
familiarsettingstocreatea personalconnectiontoa big,global
issue.However,hequicklytakesusoutthroughhisfrontdoorand
aroundtheworld,searchingforthesolutionsthatmayhelpreverse
humanity’sdevastatingimpactontheenvironment;suchideasor
technologies,Gameaubelieves,mustalreadybein existence.
The film focuseson five areas of concern,givingeach roughly
equaltime:energy,economics,agriculture,oceansandtheempow-
ermentofgirls.Eachsegmentpresentsa keyideaaccompaniedby
interviewswiththoseinvolvedin oraffectedbytherelevantconcern
as well as a range of scientists and other thinkers. In keeping with
SEEDS OF CHANGE
Damon Gameau’s 2040
and Sustainable Futures
Buildingitsmessagearounda father’swishfora
betterworldforhisdaughter, 2040 takesviewersto
variousplacesaroundtheplanetin searchof ideas
andtechnologiesthatcanhelpsaveit. Armedwith
a brainstrustofscienceexperts,inspiringevery-
day intervieweesand a sprightlyfilmmaker-host,
thisdocumentarysparksa calltoactionthatwill
resonatebothwithinthecinema and beyond it,
writesRebekah Brammer.
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