Discover inspiring documentaries on sustainability, climate change, and social responsibility on Brown Living. Get inspired to make a difference today!
Movies and documentaries that showcase recent developments, explore innovations in sustainability and address important issues are an easy and great way to get more perspective into the changing conditions of our planet. They allow you to witness the works of great researchers & scientists without having to leave the comfort of your homes.
If you aren’t much of a reader but still seek insights into the challenges of climate change, depleting world resources and ecosystems at risk, this list of acclaimed documentaries is just what you need:
The Giants
Best Film of the Festival at ALT EFF 2024 this is an incredible depiction of the impact that one single human can make on this earth! Watch The Giants to learn about the legendary life of activist Bob Brown and how he sparks a movement to save wild Tasmania.
Miles Away
Winner of the Best Indian Feature Film at ALT EFF 2024 is Miles Away, a raw and intimate portrayal of brick makers, who migrate from their home towns for work and are at the mercy of the elements.
According to CS: “In the modern world we live in, where we are fed with all kinds of contradictory information and everything is positioned as equally credible, the only way to resist that aesthetically through filmmaking is to go very close to the everyday, to the mundane, and really look at it. There is truth in everyday life. That is what I found fascinating about Miles Away.”
ORCA: Black & White Gold
Captivating, riveting, thrilling and gutting. This film is a brilliant piece of investigative journalism exposing orca trade. It’s brave and bold.
“It’s a brilliant film and it hits every note.” - Swati Thiyagarajan“
It is such an important film to watch and it’s really well done.” - Dia Mirza
Junk-e
Exploring the material crisis of e-waste in India and the very physical ways e-waste gets broken down and redistributed through informal waste processing streams.
A Body Called Life
Under the microscope, James explores our intimate connection to the smallest of our planet’s living things. Truly poetic.
“This film is profound in the way it connects the human to nature and therefore to everything around us as life, which is the most fundamental connection.” - Swati Thiyagarajan
Saving the Bone-Swallower
This film is an inspiring recipe for community action! Following the work of Purnima Devi in Assam, who’s grassroots approach to conservation yokes together women, folklore, art and community narrative.
Wild Summon
Winner of Best Animated Film at ALT EFF 2024 is a true festival darling, Wild Summon. This surreal film follows the life cycle of wild salmon, using groundbreaking animation that anthropomorphises salmon as humans. A MUST WATCH.
Camels of the Sea
Winner of Best Environmental Journalism Film at ALT EFF 2024 is Camels of the Sea, following the traditional camel herders in Gujarat and their struggle for existence in the face of misguided conservation laws.
Before The Flood
In this documentary, Leonardo DiCaprio visits scientists and political leaders to understand exactly what issues global warming is causing. It highlights the problems associated with global warming on a broader level but does not provide much information on what we as individuals can do to prevent this.
A Plastic Ocean
Focusing on plastic pollution in the ocean, this documentary showcases the effects of plastic on marine wildlife and includes the problems faced by those who live on plastic-filled islands.
The True Cost
The fashion industry is known to be a huge contributor to waste and is also infamous for horrible work conditions. This documentary looks at the 'true cost' of every piece of clothing we purchase and the effects it can have on our health, and the environment.
Trashed
This movie showcases the effects of landfills on the environment and our health. It focuses on the toxins found in our garbage and how they can dramatically affect our bodies. It also focuses on global zero-waste initiatives.
Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things
This documentary focuses on low waste living and minimalism from the point of view of two men-Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, who decide to give up their regular lifestyle and cut down to only those things that are essential and give them happiness. They also advocate why everyone should strive for a minimal lifestyle.
Seaspiracy
This much-raved Netflix documentary talks about how fishing activities affect our environment. It addresses the human impact on marine life and makes a case for ending fish consumption altogether.
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Plastic Paradise talks about the impact of plastic on the Pacific Garbage Patch and surrounding areas. This movie focuses on the plastic that ocean creatures consume and how it also ends up in our food. It will also bust the myths about the garbage patch that’s visible from space and show you what a plastic-filled ocean actually looks like.
Sustainable
This documentary goes in-depth into the problems with our current food system and how it affects our health. This movie covers all kinds of agriculture including sustainable ways to raise animals for meat and dairy use. It has interviews from organic farmers too and makes a case for how organic farming practices can sustain our population as well as the environment.
Food, Inc
This documentary takes a look at our entire food chain from farm to table, and the role of larger corporations in chemicals used in farming, genetic modifications, and more. Food Inc. will give you a newfound love for local food and increase your desire to know the source behind the things you eat!
An Inconvenient Truth
This documentary is widely recognized as one of the best documentaries on climate change, featuring Al Gore. It explains climate change in a simple manner and contains footage, narration, and clips from various TED talks as well.
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Let’s strive to grow together, enable large-scale sustainability & work towards the collective dream of a greener planet!
