“A picture is worth a thousand words,” says the famous saying. A single image can convey complex ideas almost more effectively than a textual or verbal description. Do you agree? Movies and series help us better understand life through images.
The Christmas season is all about the release and revival of movies that focus on the holiday season
Platforms and television, in general, take advantage of these days to bring out in their schedules all the audiovisual Christmas artillery. Some people love the idea and let themselves be overwhelmed by homesickness; others hate it and prefer to choose other content. Luckily, we can now choose! What happened before the advent of the Internet and these platforms full of content for everyone? Our ability to choose was simply limited to what we were offered by public and private television, which was (almost) always aimed at the masses. Today, although we sometimes get too much information, we have the power to consciously select what we want to consume. We can opt for content that gives us a more sustainable view of life.
Generally, movies that deal with the Christmas theme are usually all cut from the same cloth. Presents and more presents, overly idealistic romantic loves, Santa Claus and his legion of elves, magic, glitter, lots of snow, and good deeds.
Consumerism and the stress associated with shopping these days usually are at the core of these movies
It is easy to think of images of tables full of food (you have probably asked yourself, “What happens to the leftover food? Do they throw it away? Or do they use it for another day?). Giant Christmas trees in the living room decorated with lots of ornaments and piles of gifts. And, of course, queues in shopping malls, lights in the street and in the houses, sometimes a bit excessive.
With this avalanche of Christmas images everywhere you go and certain clichés, we have five films that will help you get out of this loop.
These movies can be watched with family, alone, or with friends, and have a clear environmental message and love for nature. Yes, sustainability awareness should be kept in mind all year round, but it is even more important to emphasize it at this time of the year.
Are you taking note?
Movies with a sustainable outlook
The first movie is WALL-E (2008) and deals with current issues such as uncontrolled consumerism, corporate greed, and environmental negligence. The action takes place in the year 2800 in which the Earth has become a world of garbage as a result of the negative impact of mankind on it. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it is an animated film, as the message is for both adults and children.
The second movie we would like to recommend is Fly Away Home, which was released in 1996. It is a tribute to environmentalism, nature and adventure. How special bonds with animals can help human relationships be special as well. And being connected to the world around makes us connect with our fellow humans. Humankind tends to consider itself above plants and animals, and it should not be like that. We should know how to live in harmony with Mother Earth and not make her adapt to us.
The third movie we propose is Bikes (2018) which shows us a city where its inhabitants are bicycles of all types and who live in harmony and on the basis of sustainability. Suddenly, the city of Spokesville is shaken by the appearance of the gasoline-powered combustion engine, with all that this entails: pollution, stress caused by wishing to go faster through life, etc. We are made to reflect on how we would like the new city models to be and above all, to influence future generations on the importance of investing in renewable resources to the detriment of non-renewable ones.
The fourth movie we present to you is Minuscule: The Valley of the Lost Ants (2013), which encourages us, both young and adults, to take a closer look at the world around us, especially at the world we cannot see with the naked eye as it is much smaller than we are. How does the garbage we throw on the ground influence the small insects and the world in general? We must be able to better manage our waste and try to minimize it as much as possible.
The fifth and last movie we suggest is Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (2012) which presents a world where nature has long been lost and where two children dream of seeing a real tree. This leads them to go beyond the limits of their prefabricated city and live adventures in search of that lost truffle that will bring nature back to life.
Just the thought of nature no longer existing and being represented through holograms or images is terrifying, don’t you think? It is up to us to make sure that this does not happen.
Gathering with your loved ones to watch a movie around a big bowl of popcorn (try to go for bulk corn instead of the microwave bag, so you avoid consuming a product that has two single-use containers involved) is a never-fail plan that connects you with others. And if, on top of that, it makes you change the way you see the world and gives you a smile and a reason to be a part of those who want a better place; you have won it all.
