“I am Greta” film review
In 2020, Greta Thunberg released her documentary “I am Greta.” As well as reading her book, this documentary provided details and the narrative behind many of her quotes and speeches. Greta has said; “Why would I need an education if there is no future?” She started school strikes for climate on her own in Stockholm, and since then, it has become a movement that millions of people have joined. There were a lot of people who seemed to be fixated on Greta not attending school, while not understanding the urgency she felt to fight for climate justice. Many schools generally do not teach students the knowledge that is truly important to the future youth face.
As Greta has said and demonstrated through all of her work; “The climate is the defining issue of our time.” Having education around climate change and environmental justice is perhaps the most important class schools could have right now. I was lucky to have this as a child in elementary school, and it has shaped my perception of the world ever since. However, in middle school and high school, climate change was never spoken about. I can understand how many children might feel failed by an educational system that does not equip them for the future we face, and I hope that this system adapts to support and nurture the change makers of our world.
The “I am Greta” documentary provides a more intimate portrayal of Greta Thunberg’s experiences than I have seen before. I had read Greta’s book “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference” and watched all her speeches over the years at marches, the UN, and climate conferences like COP. In this documentary, we see behind the scenes of all those monumental moments. The challenges of being at the forefront of the movement, and her family who supports and is with her along the way.
There were many moments that stood out to me in the documentary. One scene in particular that seemed to provide a really distinct portrait of Greta as a teenage activist was the way the film began with Greta sitting in front of the Swedish parliament on her own. She sat there for hours and not many people spoke to her. An older woman walked over and asked her why she wasn’t at school, Greta explained to her that she was striking to bring awareness to the climate crisis. The lady was more concerned about Greta not being in school than about the climate, and seemed to think that it wasn’t the job of older generations to solve this issue. The early disregard for Greta’s strikes and this reaction was disturbing. The way solving the climate crisis seems to have been put on the shoulders of the younger generation is frustrating and worrying. Everyone living on this planet should be helping to heal and restore the Earth for ourselves and future generations.
I had read about Greta’s upbringing but I didn’t know that she had struggled with selective mutism. In the documentary her father shared that for a period of three years, Greta didn’t talk to anyone apart from her parents and younger sister. A few years later, Greta was talking on some of the largest stages in the world. She had become a voice that represented many young people. She has said; “I don't care about being popular. I care about climate justice and the living planet." Perhaps, she always had a bigger destiny than popularity, which is not so important in the context of climate change. She doesn’t enjoy small talk, and prefers to speak about what she believes is important, and this focus of hers has amplified her voice around the world.
I learned through watching this documentary about the reactions of political leaders. I’ve seen all of Greta’s speeches but I had never seen the reactions of the people in the rooms she was speaking. The camera crew on the documentary showed many men scrolling through their phones, instead of listening to her words. I’ve read about other youth activists who have shared that this lack of concern and interest seems to be common, and it is very disturbing. However, although some people may not be listening, many people all over the world are, and the words of youth activists like Greta have created awareness and inspired a movement.
The pacing of the film felt indicative of the whirlwind of events and conferences that Greta attends. It felt urgent and intense, which contributed to the storytelling. The way the film combined footage with voice over was very impactful. The beginning immediately stood out, where we could hear politicians talking about how climate change "isn’t real,” while we were watching footage of the devastating effects of the crisis. We could see floods, cyclones, fires, droughts, and with the voice over in complete contrast, this storytelling amplified the urgency of the climate crisis, and why Greta’s and other activists’ work of bringing awareness to the movement is so important. The agreements that have been made to not exceed 1.5 degrees by 2050 is not enough, when we are already experiencing the effects of global warming in many countries.
I admire Greta’s courage and passion. I think this is partly what makes her so effective in raising awareness for the climate crisis. Being a young person speaking for the future of youth, she is able to reach many people with her voice. Her quote “No one is too small to make a difference” is true and encourages hope. When she started her strikes not many people joined her, but she continued because she believed in how important it was, and now millions across the world have been inspired to join the climate movement. Seeing the way people in the film expected Greta to “save the planet” made me think about how this is not an issue that can be solved by one person alone. To save the whole world, we all have to work together.
This reminded me of the panel that Emma Watson hosted at The New York Times Climate Hub at COP26 with young activists from around the world, including; Malala Yousafzai, Vanessa Nakate, Greta Thunberg, Viviam Villafaña, Mya-Rose Craig, Daphne Frias, Dominique Palmer, and Tori Tsui. The conversation held amongst these activists was incredibly eye-opening and inspiring, showing how through combining diverse perspectives and experiences we can shape change in the world. This conversation highlighted the importance of understanding that climate justice is connected to many other issues, it is intersectional. In working to create a better future for the Earth, we must also focus on racial justice, gender equality, neocolonialism, ableism, as well as climate justice. These are all interconnected issues. Seeing the young activists talk together on the panel brought me a lot of hope about the future leaders and change-makers of the world, and also about how we can all help the world and humanity.
Youth climate leaders and Emma Watson at climate conference