Stay after the film for a discussion with Edmond Mathez, a geologist and curator at the American Museum of Natural History, co-curator of the museum’s 2008 exhibit on climate change and author of the 2009 book “Climate Change: The Science of Global Warming and our Energy Future.”
President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives (recently removed from office by a coup) brought democracy to his people only to be confronted with an even more difficult challenge: the extremely low-lying 1200 islands of the Maldives are in serious danger of becoming submerged in a rising ocean. Faced with the destruction of his county, President Nasheed became an inspiring international voice for urgent action on climate change.
USA, 2011, 101 minutes, documentary, rated PG
Winner, 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, People’s Choice Award
“The hope that infuses this movie makes it all the more upsetting to walk out of the theater and contemplate a looming disaster that the world’s leaders seem unable to prevent.” – A. O. Scott, The New York Times
“Jon Shenk’s fascinating documentary feature The Island President personalizes the threat of global warming, and nationalizes it too, by focusing on Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives.” – Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Global warming gets personal with “The Island President,” an inspiring – and dispiriting – look at one man’s fight to save his country from disappearing under a rising sea. – Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor
