How to Change the World

2015

1h 53m

Documentary

List

95%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

87%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell examines the early days of Greenpeace and co-founder Bob Hunter's commitment to environmental issues.

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slawomir g

Interesting story one of the famous activist group in the world.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The great untold story of the environmentalist's Greenpeace movement.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A highly interesting and informative documentary about the best known of today's international environmental movements. Told from archival footage and first-hand recollections, this tale of running on emotions & righteousness shows how tenuous those first few years were. Then came the consolidation with European groups and the early "days of glory" were mostly behind them. A shame that GreenPeace has continued to rely more on emotions and fund-raising rather than facts and overwhelming science. For the most part is seems that only Dr. Moore actually moved on and grew with the movement. Unfortunately his interests seem to be with whatever group offers him a title and wages - as his recent passions seem to follow neither strong emotions nor the facts of hard science. Another great shame that those whales and seals GreenPeace fought for may well be extinct in the early 22nd century from ocean acidification. No plankton, no small fish or baleen whales. What a wild thought that it may well be the estranged alter-technology of those Amchitka bombs (nuclear power through Gen III+ and Gen IV) which are most likely to de-carbonise this climate-changed globe and allow Gaia to enter another golden age of EcoModernism.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty amazing film, makes me proud to be from Vancouver as well. Definitely one of the best docs I've seen in a while.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fascinating, but not engrossing documentary on the rise of the movement known as Greenpeace. While the events and work are heart-wrenchingly disturbing to watch, the moments that deal with the founding members are a tad less personal and captivating. Nevertheless, its an essential piece of film-making in an era where environmental issues are paramount. There are scenes that will haunt you, and thats a good thing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think this doc just further solidified my view that the good intentions don't always end well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Daniel M. Gold

New York Times

This absorbing account is hardly definitive, but it teaches movement building without denying the high costs paid by true believers.

Oct 29, 2015

Full Review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

A fascinating, skillfully assembled chronicle of the rise and inevitable fallout surrounding the granddaddy of the environmental activism movement.

Oct 29, 2015

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

Rothwell does a great job organising this material. It becomes an epic story, partly because of the clashes of ego between these passionate men.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 16, 2015

Full Review

Edward Lawrenson

The Big Issue

How to Change the World is in clear sympathy with the environmental causes Greenpeace champions but its portrait of the organisation is quite spiky and probing.

Dec 12, 2015

Full Review

Aaron Yap

Flicks (AU, NZ, UK)

An inspiring, affecting odyssey about flower children transforming into a "seagoing gang of ecological bikers".

Rated: 4/5

Oct 1, 2015

Full Review

Jim Schembri

3AW

Flat-out excellent documentary detailing the origins, evolution and internal squabbling of Greenpeace. Far from propaganda.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 25, 2015

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell examines the early days of Greenpeace and co-founder Bob Hunter's commitment to environmental issues.

Director: Jerry Rothwell
Screenwriter: Jerry Rothwell
Production Co: British Film Institute
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 9, 2017
Runtime: 1h 53m

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