Before The Flood is a great example of how NOT to propel the narrative of a very important issue. DiCaprio presents his case, at a time where climate change is as politically divisive as ever, by use of interviews, emotional pleas, and sprinkled with statistics. The intent is pure, but the delivery is irresponsible if anything.
The problem with this documentary is the raw lack of scientific rigidity; relying instead on emotional persuasions, such as people's personal anecdotes and cliché natural disaster imagery. Not to mention, the film is contrived with factually deceptive talking points such as the '99% of scientists' statistic. At one point, an interviewee irresponsibly refers to climate change using religious language, stating that deniers need to be 'converted to believe'; DiCaprio refers back to the religious iconography of a classic art piece throughout the film, and then goes on to speak with the Catholic pope of all people - the very antithesis of science.
This film will do little to persuade people who deny climate change, but will instead reinforce people who already understand that climate change is a real issue. What the film fails to understand is that deniers really are skeptical, and will not be convinced by emotional grovelling in the year 2016 - what's needed instead is cold hard scientific evidence, free of politics and bunked mantras - you will not find this here.
The problem with this documentary is the raw lack of scientific rigidity; relying instead on emotional persuasions, such as people's personal anecdotes and cliché natural disaster imagery. Not to mention, the film is contrived with factually deceptive talking points such as the '99% of scientists' statistic. At one point, an interviewee irresponsibly refers to climate change using religious language, stating that deniers need to be 'converted to believe'; DiCaprio refers back to the religious iconography of a classic art piece throughout the film, and then goes on to speak with the Catholic pope of all people - the very antithesis of science.
This film will do little to persuade people who deny climate change, but will instead reinforce people who already understand that climate change is a real issue. What the film fails to understand is that deniers really are skeptical, and will not be convinced by emotional grovelling in the year 2016 - what's needed instead is cold hard scientific evidence, free of politics and bunked mantras - you will not find this here.