''How to Change the World'' is a

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

from writer-director Jerry Rothwell ('' Deep Water'') about a group of young activists who intend to stop Richard Nixon's nuclear bomb tests in Amchitka, Alaska, and who eventually create the worldwide green movement with the foundation of Greenpeace.

Synopsis

In 1971, a small group of activists sailed from Vancouver, Canada in a fishing boat. to try to stop Nixon's atomic test bomb in Amchitka, Alaska. The film centres on activist Robert Hunter and his part in the creation of Greenpeace, which is structured by the five rules of engagement from Hunter's writings.

Cast

* Barry Pepper as the voice of Bob Hunter, serving as narrator * Bill Darnel * David Garrick * Bobbi Hunter *

Emily Hunter Emily Hunter (born May 20, 1984) is a Canadian activist, author and filmmaker. She is the daughter of the late Robert Hunter, first president of Greenpeace and Bobbi Hunter, co-founder of Greenpeace. She has been a campaigner for nearly a decad ...

* Will Jackson * George Korotva * Myron McDonald * Rod Marining * Patrick Moore * Ron Precious *

Paul Spong Paul Spong is a Canadian neuroscientist and cetologist from originally from New Zealand. He has been researching orcas (or killer whales) in British Columbia since 1967, and is credited with increasing public awareness of whaling, through his invo ...

* Carlie Truman *

Paul Watson Paul Franklin Watson (born December 2, 1950) is a Canadian-American conservation and environmental activist, who founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an anti-poaching and direct action group focused on marine conservation activism. Th ...

Rex Weyler Rex Weyler (born September 10, 1947) is an American-Canadian author, journalist and ecologist. He has worked as a writer, editor, and publisher. In the 1970s, Weyler served as a director of the original ''Greenpeace Foundation'', and as campaign ...

Release and marketing

The documentary first premiered at the

2015 Sundance Film Festival The 2015 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 22 to February 1, 2015. '' What Happened, Miss Simone?'', a biographical documentary film about American singer Nina Simone, opened the festival. Comedy-drama film '' Grandma'', directed by ...

, winning the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing and the Candescent Award. A first trailer was released on July 30, 2015. On September 9, 2015, Picturehouse screened the documentary in 120 U.K. and 70 U.S. cinemas, (presented with Fathom Events stateside), followed by a satellite Q&A with Rothwell, fashion designer and Greenpeace supporter Vivienne Westwood and daughter of the first president of Greenpeace,

Reception

The film received positive reviews. The

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website

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reported an 86% approval rating, with a rating average of 8/10. Dennis Harvey praised the film in ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' noting, "The goldmine of 16mm colour footage, whose propagandic value participants were quite cognizant of at the time, is in mint condition, showing the excitement and fun of the movement in its earliest days." Kate Taylor from ''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'' gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, adding that "Whatever you think of Greenpeace's less well-considered antics over the years, How to Change the World is a compelling story of one environmentalist's remarkable combination of prescience, grit and timing." ''

The Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

'' wrote "Almost a "found footage" movie, it makes excellent use of 1,500 archived 16 mm reels supplemented with fresh interviews and some animation."

Accolades

The film has received accolades.

References

External links

How to Change the World Official Website
* * * {{Portal bar, Environment, Film 2015 films Documentary films about environmental issues Documentary films about historical events Greenpeace Films about activists English-language Canadian films Films scored by Lesley Barber 2015 documentary films Canadian documentary films 2010s English-language films 2010s Canadian films